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THE 

WAR RISK 
INSURANCE ACT 

With Amendments Prior to April 1, 1923 


An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk 
Insurance in the Treasury Department 
An Act to establish a Veterans’ Bureau and to improve the 
facilities and service of such bureau, and further to amend 
and modify the War Risk Insurance Act 


ISSUED BY THE 

UNITED STATES VETERANS’ BUREAU 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 


APRIL, 1923 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1923 







ADDITIONAL COPIES 

OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM 
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 

AT 

5 CENTS PER COPY 


PURCHASER AGREES NOT TO RESELL OR DISTRIBUTE THIS 
COPY FOR PROFIT.—PUB. RES. 57, APPROVED MAY II, 1022 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

RECEIVED 

AUG 1 4 W.3 


DOCUMENTS DIVISION 


J 





zvsih 


, A . 

THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 

(WITH AMENDMENTS PRIOR TO APRIL 1, 1923.) 

THIS PUBLICATION CONTAINS ONLY THE PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE DIVISION 
OF MILITARY AND NAVAL INSURANCE. 


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled , 

United States Veterans’ Bureau.® 

Section 1 . There is hereby established an independent bureau 
under the President to be known as the Veterans’ Bureau, the di¬ 
rector of which shall be appointed by the President, 

ct . ug. ., . ky an( j with the advice and consent of the Senate. 

The director of the Veterans’ Bureau shall receive a salary of $10,000 
per annum, payable monthly. 

The word “ director,” as hereinafter used in this Act, shall mean 
the Director of the Veterans’ Bureau. 

The powers and duties pertaining to the office of the Director of 
the Bureau of War Bisk Insurance now in the Treasury Department 
are hereby transferred to the director, subject to the general direction 
of the President, and the said office of the Director of the Bureau of 
War Bisk Insurance is hereby abolished. 

There shall be included on the technical and administrative staff 
of the director such staff officers, experts, and assistants as the 
director shall prescribe; and there shall be in the Veterans’ Bureau 
such sections and subdivisions thereof as the director shall prescribe. 

Sec. 2. The director, subject to the general direction of the Presi¬ 
dent, shall administer, execute, and enforce the provisions of this 
Act, and for that purpose shall have full power and authority to 
make rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act, which are necessary or appropriate to carry out its purposes 
and shall decide all questions arising under this Act except as other¬ 
wise provided herein. 

Sec. 3. The functions, powers, and duties conferred by existing 
law upon the Bureau of War Bisk Insurance are hereby transferred 
to and made a part of the Veterans’ Bureau. 

The functions, powers, and duties conferred upon the Federal 
Board for Vocational Education by the Act entitled “An Act to 

° Changed to read United States Veterans’ Bureau by joint resolution approved Aug. 
24, 1921, as follows : 

“ Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America 
in Congress assembled, That the Veterans' Bureau, created by the Act entitled ‘An Act to 
establish a Veterans’ Bureau and to improve the facilities and service of such bureau, 
and further to amend and modify the War Risk Insurance Act,’ approved August 9, 1921, 
shall be known as the * United States Veterans’ Bureau,’ and whenever used in such Act 
the term ‘ Veterans’ Bureau ’ shall mean ‘ United States Veterans’ Bureau.’ ” 


1 




2 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


provide for vocational rehabilitation and return to civil employment 
of disabled persons discharged from the military or naval forces of 
the United States, and for other purposes,” approved June 27, 1918, 
and amendments thereto, are hereby transferred to and made a 
part of the Veterans’ Bureau. 

Sec. 4. All personnel, facilities, property, and equipment, includ¬ 
ing leases, contracts, and other obligations and instrumentalities in 
the District of Columbia and elsewhere of the Bureau of War Risk 
Insurance, of the United States Public Health Service, as described 
and provided in a written order of the Treasury Department issued 
and signed by the Secretary of the Treasury on April 19, 19*21, and 
designated “ Order relative to the transfer of certain activities of 
the United States Public Health Service, relating to the Bureau of 
War Bisk Insurance, including the trainees of the Rehabilitation 
Division of the Federal Board for Vocational Education,” and of 
the Rehabilitation Division of the Federal Board for Vocational 
Education, as a result of the administration of the Act approved 
June 27, 1918, and amendments thereto, are hereby transferred to 
and made a part of the Veterans’ Bureau under the control, man¬ 
agement, operation, and supervision of the director, and subject to 
such change in designation and organization as he may deem neces¬ 
sary in carrying out the provisions of this Act: Provided , That all 
commissioned personnel detailed or hereafter detailed from the 
United States Public Health Service to the Veterans’ Bureau, shall 
hold the same rank and grade, shall receive the same pay and allow¬ 
ances, and shall be subject to the same rules for relative rank and 
promotion as now or hereafter may be provided by law for commis¬ 
sioned personnel of the same rank or grade or performing the same 
or similar duties in the United States Public Health Service. 

Sec. 5. All records, files, documents, correspondence, and other 
papers relating to service rendered or to be rendered by the United 
States Public Health Service in the medical examination, assign¬ 
ment to hospitals, and treatment of persons who are now or have 
been patients and beneficiaries of the Bureau of War Risk Insurance 
or of the Rehabilitation Division of the Federal Board for Voca¬ 
tional Education, as a result of the administration of the Act ap¬ 
proved June 27, 1918, and amendments thereto, and as described and 
provided in a written order of the Treasury Department issued and 
signed by the Secretary of the Treasury on April 19, 1921, and 
designated “ Order relative to the transfer of certain activities of 
the United States Public Health Service relating to the Bureau of 
War Risk Insurance, including the trainees of the Rehabilitation 
Division of the Federal Board for Vocational Education,” shall be 
transferred to the Veterans’ Bureau. 

All records, files, documents, correspondence, and other papers in 
the possession of the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, and those 
which as a result of the administration of the Act approved June 
27, 1918, and amendments thereto, are in the possession of the Re¬ 
habilitation Division of the Federal Board for Vocational Educa¬ 
tion shall be transferred to the Veterans’ Bureau. 

Sec. 6. The director shall establish a central office in the District 
of Columbia, and not more than fourteen regional offices and such 
suboffices, not exceeding one hundred and forty in number, within 


3 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 

the territory of the United States and its outlying possessions as 
may >e deemed necessary by him and in the best interests of the 
work committed to the Veterans’ Bureau and to carry out the pur¬ 
poses ol this Act. Such regional offices may, pending final action by 
tiie director in case of an appeal, under such rules and regulations as 
may be prescribed by the director, exercise such powers for hearing 
complaints and for examining, rating, and awarding compensation 
claims, granting medical, surgical, dental, and hospital care, conva¬ 
lescent care, and necessary and reasonable after care, making insur¬ 
ance awards, granting vocational training, and all other matters 
delegated to them by the director as could be performed lawfully 
under this Act by the central office. The suboffices shall have such 
powers as may be delegated to them by the director, except to make 
compensation and insurance awards and to grant vocational training. 

The regional offices and suboffices, with all authority to establish 
such offices, shall terminate on June 30, 1926, but nothing herein 
shall prevent the director from terminating any regional offices or 
suboffices when in his judgment this may be done without detriment 
to the administration of this Act, and upon such termination all 
records and supplies pertaining thereto shall be delivered to the cen¬ 
tral office. 

Sec. 7. The beneficiaries of the Bureau of War Risk Insurance 
and the Rehabilitation Division of the Federal Board for Vocational 
Education shall hereafter be the beneficiaries of the Veterans’ 
Bureau, and complete individual record of each beneficiary shall be 
kept by the Veterans’ Bureau. 

Sec. 8. All sums heretofore appropriated for carrying out the 
provisions of the War Risk Insurance Act and amendments thereto, 
and to carry out the provisions of the Act entitled “ An Act to 
provide for vocational rehabilitation and return to civil employment 
of disabled persons discharged from the military or naval forces 
of the United States, and for other purposes,” approved June 27, 
1918, and amendments thereto, shall, where unexpended, be made 
available for the Veterans’ Bureau, and may be expended in such 
manner as the director deems necessary in carrying out the purposes 
of this Act, with the restrictions heretofore imposed as to number 
of persons that may be employed at stated salaries. 

Sec. 9. The director, subject to the general directions of the Presi¬ 
dent, shall be responsible for the proper examination, medical care, 
treatment, hospitalization, dispensary, and convalescent care, neces¬ 
sary and reasonable after care, welfare of, nursing, vocational train¬ 
ing, and such other services as may be necessary in the carrying out 
of the provisions of this Act, and for that purpose is hereby author¬ 
ized to utilize the now existing or future facilities of the United 
States Public Health Service, the War Department, the Navy De¬ 
partment, the Interior Department, the National Homes for Disabled 
Volunteer Soldiers, and such other governmental facilities as may be 
made available for the purposes set forth in this Act; and such gov¬ 
ernmental agencies are hereby authorized and directed to furnish 
such facilities, including personnel, equipment, medical, surgical, 
and hospital services and supplies as the director may deem neces¬ 
sary and advisable in carrying out the provisions of this Act, in addi¬ 
tion to such governmental facilities as are hereby made available. 


4 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


In order to standardize the character of examination, medical care, 
treatment, hospitalization, dispensary, and convalescent care, nursing, 
vocational training, and such other services as may be necessary for 
beneficiaries under this Act, the director shall maintain an inspection 
service, with authority to examine all facilities and services utilized 
in carrying out the purpose of this Act, and for this purpose, with the 
approval of the President, may utilize such other Government or 
private agencies as may be deemed practicable and necessary. The 
head of the inspection service shall report to the director in the man¬ 
ner the director may prescribe the result of each examination of 
facilities and services, and shall recommend to him methods of stand¬ 
ardizing such facilities and services. 

When, in the opinion of the director, the facilities and services 
utilized for the hospitalization, medical care, and treatment for 
beneficiaries under this Act are unsatisfactory, the director shall 
make arrangements for the further hospitalization, care, and treat¬ 
ment of such beneficiaries by other means. 

In the event that there is not sufficient Government hospital and 
other facilities for the proper medical care and treatment of bene¬ 
ficiaries under this Act, and the director deems it necessary and ad¬ 
visable to secure additional Government facilities, he may, within 
the limits of appropriations made for carrying out the provisions of 
this paragraph, and with the approval of the President, improve or 
extend existing governmental facilities, or acquire additional facili¬ 
ties by purchase or otherwise. Such new property and structures 
as may be so improved, extended, or acquired shall become part of 
the permanent equipment of the Veterans’ Bureau or of some one 
of the now existing agencies of the Government, including the War 
Department, Navy Department, Interior Department, Treasury 
Department, the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 
in such a way as will best serve the present emergency, taking into 
consideration the future services to be rendered the veterans of the 
World War, including the beneficiaries under this Act. 

In the event Government hospital facilities and other facilities are 
not thus available or are not sufficient, the director may contract with 
State, municipal, or private hospitals for such medical, surgical, and 
hospital services and supplies as may be required, and such contracts 
may be made for a period of not exceeding five years and may be for 
the use of a ward or other hospital unit or on such other basis as may 
be in the best interest of the beneficiaries under this Act. 

The President is hereby authorized, should he deem it necessary 
and advisable for the proper medical care and treatment of benefi¬ 
ciaries under this Act, to transfer to the director the operation, man¬ 
agement, and control of specifically designated hospitals now under 
the jurisdiction of the Public Health Service. Such hospitals when 
transferred shall be used exclusively for beneficiaries under this Act 
and shall be under the operative control of the director for such 
period of time as the President may prescribe. 

Sec. 10. For the purpose of this Act, the director is authorized to 
detail from time to time clerks or persons employed in the bureau, to 
make examinations into the merits of compensation and insurance 
claims, whether pending or adjudicated, as he may deem proper, and 
to aid in the preparation, presentation, or examination of such claims ; 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


5 


and any such person so detailed shall have power to administer oaths, 
take affidavits, and certify to the correctness of the papers and docu- 
ments pertaining to the administration of this Act. Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to authorize a travel allowance to clerks or 
persons for transportation or subsistence outside of the district in 
which they are employed. 

Sec. 11. The director is hereby authorized to make such rules and 
regulations as may be deemed necessary in order to promote good 
conduct on the part of persons who are receiving care or treatment in 
hospitals, homes, or institutions as patients or beneficiaries of said 
bureau during their stay in such hospitals, homes, institutions, or 
training centers. Penalties for the breach of such rules and regula¬ 
tions may, with the approval of the director, extend to a forfeiture 
by the offender of such portion of the compensation payable to him, 
not exceeding three-fourths of the monthly installment per month for 
three months, for a breach committed while receiving treatment in 
such hospital, home, institution, or training center as may be pre¬ 
scribed by such rules and regulations: Provided , That the offender 
shall have the right to appeal the decision involving the forfeiture of 
a part of his compensation to a board of three persons which shall be 
established and appointed by the director in September of each year 
for each regional district. Such board shall be known as the Board 
on Discipline and Morale. It shall serve without compensation, and 
at least one of the members of such board shall be an ex-service man 
and a member of some war veterans’ organization. No person who 
is in the employ of the United States shall be a member of such 
board. The decision of such board, after hearing all the evidence 
presented by the offender and those charging a breach of the rules 
and regulations, shall be final. 

Sec. 12. The director may set forth in regulations to be prescribed 
by him the conditions and limitations whereby all patients or bene¬ 
ficiaries of the Veterans’ Bureau who are receiving treatment through 
the bureau as inmates of a hospital may allot any proportion or pro¬ 
portions or any fixed amount or amounts of their monthly compensa¬ 
tion for such purposes and for the benefit of such person or persons 
as they may direct. 

In case such inmate has not allotted three-fourths of his monthly 
compensation, regulations to be made by the director may provide 
that any unallotted portion of such three-fourths compensation may 
be deposited to his credit with the Treasurer of the United States to 
accumulate at such rate of interest as the Secretary of the Treasury 
may determine but at a rate never less than 3£ per centum per annum, 
payable for no period, however, of less than six months, and when 
payable shall be paid, principal and interest, to such patient if living; 
otherwise, to any beneficiary or beneficiaries he may have designated, 
or, if there be no such benenciary, then to the executor or administra¬ 
tor of the estate of such deceased person: Provided , That this para¬ 
graph shall not be so construed as to prevent payment by the bureau 
from the amounts due to the decedent’s estate of his funeral expenses, 
expenses of last illness, board, rent, lodging, or other household 
expenses for which the decedent is liable, provided a claim therefor is 
presented by the creditors or by the person or persons who actually 
paid the same before settlement by the Veterans’ Bureau. 


6 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


The Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to invest and 
reinvest the said allotments deposited with him, or any part thereof, 
in interest-bearing obligations of the United States and to sell the 
obligations for the purposes of said funds. 

Sec. 13. In addition to the care, treatment, and appliances now 
authorized by law, said bureau also shall provide without charge 
therefor hospital, dental, medical, surgical, and convalescent care and 
treatment and prosthetic appliances for any member of the military 
or naval forces of the United States separated therefrom under 
honorable conditions disabled by reason of any wound or injury 
received or disease contracted, or by reason of any aggravation of a 
preexisting injury or disease, specifically noted at examination for 
entrance into or employment in the active military or naval service, 
while in the active military or naval service of the United States on 
or after April 6, 1917 : Provided , That the wound or injury received 
or disease contracted, or aggravation of a preexisting injury or dis¬ 
ease, for which such hospital, dental, medical, surgical, and conva¬ 
lescent care and treatment and prosthetic appliances shall be fur¬ 
nished, was incurred in line of duty and not caused by his own willful 
misconduct: Provided further , That application for such care and 
treatment and appliances provided for in this section shall be made 
within one year from date of separation from service or from the date 
this Act goes into effect, whichever is the later. 

Sec. 14. The director shall file with the Clerk of the House and 
the Secretary of the Senate on the first day of the next regular 
session after this Act takes effect an itemized account of all expendi¬ 
tures, classified by regional offices and suboffices, made under this 
Act, including names, classifications, and salaries of all staff officers, 
experts, assistants, and employees, and the nature and terms of all 
contracts made under the authority of this Act, and the names and 
principal place of business of the parties thereto. Thereafter, on the 
first Monday in December of each year, the director shall make a 
report to Congress of his doings under this Act for the preceding 
fiscal year. 

WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT, WITH AMENDMENTS. 

Article I. 

Section 1 . That there is established in the Treasury Department 
a Bureau to be known as the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, the 
a + « * « mi, director of which shall receive a salary at the rate 

Act Oct. 6, 1917. j . ak- aaa J 

of $5,000 per annum. 

That there be in such bureau a Division of Marine and Seamen’s 
Insurance and a Division of Military and Naval Insurance in charge 
of a commissioner of Marine and Seamen’s Insurance and a commis¬ 
sioner of Military and Naval Insurance, respectively, each of whom 
shall receive a salary of $4,000 per annum. 

******* 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled , That the office of 
Act Dec 24 1919 Commissioner of Military and Naval Insurance 

and the office of the Commissioner of Marine and 
Seamen’s Insurance created by the War Risk Insurance Act are 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


7 


hereby abolished and the powers and duties pertaining to such offices 
are hereby transferred to the Director of the Bureau of War Risk 
Insurance, who shall hereafter receive a salary at the rate of $7,500 
per annum. Until such time as the Secretary of the Treasury may 
direct otherwise and subject to the provisions of section 9 of the 
War Risk Insurance Act, there shall be in the Bureau of War Risk 
Insurance a Division of Marine and Seamen’s Insurance and a 
Division of Military and Naval Insurance. All laws inconsistent 
with this section are hereby so modified as to conform to the pro¬ 
visions hereof. 


* * * * * * * 


Sec. 13. That the director, subject to the general direction of the 
Secretary of the Treasury, shall administer, execute, and enforce the 
provisions of this Act, and for that purpose have 
full power and authority to make rules and regula- 2 of i 9 i™ ended May 
tijOns not inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act, necessary or appropriate to carry out its purposes, and shall de¬ 
cide all questions arising under the Act, except as otherwise pro¬ 
vided in section five. Wherever under any provision or provisions of 
the Act regulations are directed or authorized to be made, such regu¬ 
lations, unless the context otherwise requires, shall or may be made 
by the director, subject to the general direction of the Secretary of 
the Treasury. The director shall adopt reasonable and proper rules 
to govern the procedure of the divisions and to regulate and provide 
for the nature and extent of the proofs and evidence and the method 
of taking and furnishing the same in order to establish the right to 
benefits of allowance, allotment, compensation, or insurance pro¬ 
vided for in this Act, the forms of application of those claiming to be 
entitled to such benefits, the methods of making investigations and 
medical examinations, and the manner and form of adjudications 
and awards: Provided , however , That payment to any attorney or 
„ „ agent for such assistance as may be required in the 
20, 1918; formerly preparation and execution of the necessary papers 
sec - 405 - shall not exceed $3 in any one case: And provided 

further , That no claim agent or attorney shall be recognized in the 
presentation or adjudication of claims under articles two, three, and 
four, except that in the event of disagreement as to a claim under the 
contract of insurance between the bureau and any beneficiary or bene¬ 
ficiaries thereunder an action on the claim may be brought against 
the United States in the district court of the United States in and for 
the district in which such beneficiaries or any one of them resides, 
and that whenever judgment shall be rendered in an action brought 
pursuant to this provision the court, as part of its judgment, shall 
determine and allow such reasonable attorney’s fees, not to exceed 
five per centum of the amount recovered, to be paid by the claimant 
in behalf of whom such proceedings were instituted to his attorney, 
said fee to be paid out of the payments to be made to the beneficiary 
under the judgment rendered at a rate not exceeding one-tenth of 
each of such payments until paid. 

Any person who shall, directly or indirectly, solicit, contract for, 
charge, or receive, or who shall attempt to solicit, contract for, 
charge, or receive any fee or compensation, except as herein provided, 
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and for each and every offense shall 


49454—2 


2 


8 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


be punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment at 
hard labor for not more than two years, or by both such fine and 
imprisonment. 

Sec. 14. That the bureau and its divisions shall have such depu¬ 
ties, assistants, actuaries, clerks, and other employees as may be 

Act Oct 6 1917 from time to time provided by Congress. The 
bureau shall, by arrangement with the Secretary 
of War and the Secretary of the Navy, respectively, make use of the 
services of surgeons in the Army and Navy. The Secretary of the 
Treasury is authorized to establish an advisory board consisting of 
three members skilled in the practice of insurance against death or 
disability for the purpose of assisting the Division of Military and 
Naval Insurance in fixing premium rates and in the adjustment of 
claims for losses under the contracts of insurance provided for in 
article four and in adjusting claims for compensation under article 
three; compensation for the persons so appointed to be determined 
by the Secretary of the Treasury, but not to exceed $20 a day each 
while actually employed. 

Sec. 15. That for the purposes of this Act, the director, commis¬ 
sioners, and deputy commissioners shall have power to issue sub- 
pcenas for and compel the attendance of witnesses 

Act Oct. 6,1917. u. J 

within a radius of one hundred miles, to require 
the production of books, papers, documents, and other evidence, to 
administer oaths and to examine witnesses upon any matter within 
the jurisdiction of the bureau. The director may obtain such infor¬ 
mation and such reports from officials and employees of the depart¬ 
ments of the Government of the United States and of the States as 
may be agreed upon by the heads of the respective departments. In 
case of disobedience to a subpoena, the bureau may invoke the aid of 
any district court of the United States in requiring the attendance 
and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evi¬ 
dence, and such court within the jurisdiction of which the inquiry 
is carried on, may, in case of contumacy or refusal to obey a sub¬ 
poena issued to any officer, agent, or employee of any corporation or 
other person, issue an order requiring such corporation or other per¬ 
son to appear before the bureau, or to give evidence touching the 
matter in question; and any failure to obey such order of the court 
may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof. Any person 
so required to attend as a witness shall be allowed and paid the same 
fees and mileage as are paid witnesses in the district courts of the 
United States. 

Sec. 16. That the director shall submit annually to the Secretary 
of the Treasury estimates of the appropriations 

Act ct ' ’ * necessary for the work of the bureau. 

Sec. IT. That for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of 
this Act there is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of 

Act Oct. 6, 1917. $100,000, for the payment of all expenses incident to 

the work authorized under this Act, including sala¬ 
ries of the director and commissioners and of such deputies, assist¬ 
ants, accountants, experts, clerks, and other employees in the District 
of Columbia or elsewhere, as the Secretary of the Treasury may 
deem necessary, traveling expenses, rent and equipment of offices, 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


9 


typewriters and exchange of same, purchase of law books and books 
of reference, printing and binding to be done at the Government 
Printing Office, and all other necessary expenses. With the excep¬ 
tion of the director, the commissioners, and such special experts as 
the Secretary of the Treasury may from time to time find necessary 
for the conduct of the work of the bureau, all employees of the 
bureau shall be appointed from lists of eligibles to be supplied by the 
Civil Service Commission and in accordance with the civil-service 
law. Such fees, allowances, and salaries shall be the same as are 
paid for similar services in other departments of the Government. 

Sec. 18. That there is hereby appropriated from any money in 
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $141,000,000, to 
be known as the military and naval family allow- 
Aot Oct. e, 1917. ance appropriation, for the payment of the family 
allowances provided by Article II. Payments out 
of this appropriation shall be made upon and in accordance with 
awards by the Commissioner of the Division of Military and Naval 
Insurance. 

Sec. 19. That there is hereby appropriated, from any money in 
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $12,150,000, to 
be known as the military and naval compensation 
Act Oct. 6,1917. appropriation, for the payment of the compensa¬ 
tion, funeral expenses, services, and supplies pro¬ 
vided by Article III. Payments out of this appropriation shall be 
made upon and in accordance with awards by the director. 

Sec. 20 . That there is hereby appropriated from any money in 
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $23,000,000, to 
be known as the military and naval insurance 
Act Oct. 6,1917. appropriation. All premiums that may be collected 
for the insurance provided by the provisions of 
Article IV shall be deposited and covered into the Treasury to the 
credit of this appropriation. 

Such sum, including all premium payments, is hereby made avail¬ 
able for the payment of the liabilities of the United States incurred 
under contracts of insurance made under the provisions of Article 
IV. Payments from this appropriation shall be made upon and in 
accordance with awards by the director. 

Sec. 21. That there shall be set aside as a separate fund in the 
Treasury, to be known as the military and naval pay deposit fund, 

. ...... all sums held out of pay as provided by section two 

c c ' ’ ' hundred and three of this Act. Such fund, includ¬ 

ing all additions, is hereby made available for the payment of the 
sums so held and deposited, with interest, as provided in section two 
hundred and three, and the amount necessary to pay interest is hereby 
appropriated. 

Sec. 22. That for the purpose of this amendatory Act the marriage 
. _ « of the claimant to the person on account of whom 

Act Oct. 6, 1017. th(} ckim ig made shal J be shown _ 

(1) By a duly verified copy of a public or church record; or 

(2) By the affidavit of the clergyman or magistrate who offi¬ 
ciated; or 

(3) By the testimony of two or more eyewitnesses to the cere¬ 
mony; or 


10 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


(4) By a duly verified copy of the church record of baptism of the 
children; or 

(5) By the testimony of two or more witnesses who know that the 
parties lived together as husband and wife, and were recognized as 
such, and who shall state how long, within their knowledge, such 
relation continued: Provided , That marriages, except such as are 
mentioned in section forty-seven hundred and five of the Revised 
Statutes, shall be proven in compensation or insurance cases to be 
legal marriages according to the law of the place where the parties 
resided at the time of marriage or at the time when the right to 
compensation or insurance accrued; and the open and notorious illicit 
cohabitation of a widow who is a claimant shall operate to terminate 
her right to compensation or insurance from the commencement of 
such cohabitation: Provided further , That for the purpose of the 
administration of Article II of this Act marriage shall be conclu¬ 
sively presumed, in the absence of proof, that there is a legal spouse 
living, if the man and woman have lived together in the openly 
acknowledged relation of husband and wife during the two years 
immediately preceding the date of the declaration of war, or the 
date of enlistment or of entrance into or employment in active 
service in the military or naval forces of the United States if subse¬ 
quent to such declaration. 

In Articles II, III, and IV of this Act unless the context otherwise 
requires— 

(1) The term “ child includes— 


(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

hold. 


A legitimate child. 

A child legally adopted. 

A stepchild, if a member of the man’s house- 


As amended 
24, 1919. 


Dec. 


Act Oct. 6,1917. 

As amended Dec. 

24, 1919. 

Act Oct. 6,1917. 

(d) An illegitimate child, but, as to the father only, if acknowl¬ 
edged in writing signed by him, or if he has been judicially ordered 
or decreed to contribute to such child’s support, or 
has been judicially decreed to be the putative 
father of such child. 

(2) The term “ grandchild ” means a child as above defined of a 
child as above defined. 

(3) Except as used in section four hundred and one and in section 
four hundred and two the terms “ child ” and “ grandchild ” are 
limited to unmarried persons either (a) under eighteen years of age, 
or (b) of any age, if insane, idiotic, or otherwise permanently help¬ 
less. 

(4) The term “ parent ” includes a father, mother, grandfather, 
grandmother, father through adoption, mother 
through adoption, stepfather, and stepmother, 
either of the persons in the service or of the spouse. 

(4a) The terms “ father ” and “ mother ” include stepfathers and 
stepmothers, fathers and mothers through adoption, and persons 
who have stood in loco parentis to a member of the 
24 fm 9 dment Dec ' military or naval forces at any time prior to his 
enlistment or induction for a period of not less 
than one year: Provided , That this subdivision shall be deemed to 
be in effect as of October 6, 1917. 


As amended June 
25, 1918. 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


11 


(5) The terms “brother” and “sister” include brothers and 

sisters of the half blood as well as those of the 

Act Oct. 6,1917. whole blood, stepbrothers and stepsisters, and 
brothers and sisters through adoption. 

(5a) The terms “ brother ” and “ sister ” include the children of a 
person who, for a period of not less than one year, stood in loco 
parentis to a member of the military or naval 
24 A T 9 ? 9 . ment r * c ’ forces of the United States at any time prior to 
his enlistment or induction, or another member 
of the same household as to whom such person during such period 
likewise stood in loco parentis: Provided , That this subdivision 
shall be deemed to be in effect as of October 6, 1917. 

(6) The term “commissioned officer” includes a warrant officer, 

but includes only an officer in active service in the 

' c c ‘ ’ military or naval forces of the United States. 

(7) The terms “man” and “enlisted man” mean a person, 
whether male or female, and whether enlisted, enrolled, or drafted 
into active service in the military or naval forces of the United 
States, and include noncommissioned and petty officers, and members 
of training camps authorized by law. 

(8) The term “enlistment” includes voluntary enlistment, draft, 
and enrollment in active service in the military or naval forces of the 
United States. 

(9) The term “ commissioner ” means the Commissioner of Mili¬ 
tary and Naval Insurance. 

(10) The term “ injury ” includes disease. 

(11) The term “pay” means the pay for service in the United 
States according to grade and length of service, excluding all allow¬ 
ances. 

(12) The term “military or naval forces” means the Army, the 
Navy, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guafd, the Naval Reserves, the 
National Naval Volunteers, and any other branch of the United 
States service while serving pursuant to law with the Army or the 
Navy. 

Sec. 23. (1 ) That, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this 
section, when by the terms of the War Risk Insurance Act and any 
amendments thereto, any payment is to be made to 
„ A i 92 '“ en fu d rt ! he r r a minor, other than a person in the military or 
amending Acts Oct. naval forces of the United States, or to a person 
me. 17 ’ aDd DeC ' 24, mentally incompetent, or under other legal disa¬ 
bility adjudged by a court of competent jurisdic¬ 
tion, such payment shall be made to the person who is constituted 
guardian, curator, or conservator by the laws of the State or residence 
of claimant, or is otherwise legally vested with responsibility or care 
of the claimant or his estate: Provided , That prior to receipt of 
notice by the United States Veterans’ Bureau that any such person is 
under such other legal disability adjudged by some court of compe¬ 
tent jurisdiction, payment may be made to such person direct: 
Provided further , That for the purpose of payments of benefits under 
Article III of the War Risk Insurance Act, as amended, where no 
guardian, curator, or conservator of the person under a legal disa- 
bilitv has been appointed under the laws of the State or residence 
of the claimant, the director shall determine the person who is other- 


12 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


wise legally vested with responsibility or care of the claimant or his 
estate. 

(2) If any person entitled to receive payments under this Act 
shall be an inmate of any asylum or hospital for the insane main¬ 
tained by the United States, or by any of the several States or Terri¬ 
tories of the United States, or any political subdivision thereof, and 
no guardian, curator, or conservator of the property of such person 
shall have been appointed by competent legal authority, the director, 
if satisfied after due investigation that any such person is mentally 
incompetent, may order that all moneys payable to him or her under 
this Act shall be held in the Treasury of the United States to the 
credit of such person. All funds so held shall be disbursed under the 
order of the director and subject to his discretion either to the chief 
executive officer of the asylum or hospital in which such person is an 
inmate, to be used by such officer for the maintenance and comfort of 
such inmate, subject to the duty to account to the United States Vet¬ 
erans’ Bureau and to repay any surplus at any time remaining in his 
hands in accordance with regulations to be prescribed by the director; 
or to the wife (or dependent husband if the inmate is a woman), 
minor children, and dependent parents of such inmate, in such 
amounts as the director shall find necessary for their support and 
maintenance in the order named; or, if at any time such inmate shall 
be found to be mentally competent, or shall die, or a guardian, 
curator, or conservator of his or her estate be appointed, any balance 
remaining to the credit of such inmate shall be paid to such inmate, 
if mentally competent, and otherwise to his or her guardian, curator, 
conservator, or personal representative. 

Sec. 24. That the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, so far as practi¬ 
cable, shall upon request furnish information to and act for persons 
in the military or naval service, with respect to 
Act Oct. 6, 1917 . an y contracts of insurance whether with the Gov¬ 
ernment or otherwise, as may be prescribed by regulations. Said 
bureau may upon request procure from and keep a record of the 
amount and kind of insurance held by every commissioned and ap¬ 
pointive officer and of every enlisted man in the military or naval 
service of the United States, including the name and principal place 
of business of the company, society, or organization in which such 
insurance is held, the date of the policy, amount of premium, name 
and relationship of the beneficiary, and such other data as may be 
deemed of service in protecting the interests of the insured and bene¬ 
ficiaries. 

Sec. 25. That whoever in any claim for family allowance, com¬ 
pensation, or insurance, or in any document required by this Act 
or by regulation made under this Act, makes any 
Act c ‘ ’ ' statement of a material fact knowing it to be false, 

shall be guilty of perjury and shall be punished by a fine of not more 
than $5,000, or by imprisonment for not more than two years or both. 

Sec. 26. That if any person entitled to payment of family allow¬ 
ance or compensation under this Act, whose right to such payment 
\ct Oct e 1917 under this Act ceases upon the happening of any 
contingency, thereafter fraudulently accepts any 
such payment, he shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2,000, 
or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


13 


Sec. 27. That whoever shall obtain or receive any money, check, 
allotment, family allowance, compensation, or insurance under Ar- 
Act June 25 , 1918 . H? HI? ° r IV of this Act, without being en- 

titled thereto, with intent to defraud the United 
States or any person in the military or naval forces of the United 
States, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2,000, or by im¬ 
prisonment for not more than one year, or both. 

Paragraph 2 of section 14 of the Act of August 9, 1921, provides: 

Any person who shall knowingly make or cause to be made, or 
conspire, combine, aid or assist in, agree to, arrange for, or in anywise 
Act Aug. 9 , 1921 . P rocure the making or presentation of a false or 
fraudulent affidavit, declaration, certificate, state¬ 
ment, voucher, or paper or writing purporting to be such, concerning 
any claim or the approval of any claim for compensation or the pay¬ 
ment of any money, for himself or for any other person, under 
Article III of the War Risk Insurance Act, or any Acts amendatory 
of or supplemental to such Article III, shall forfeit all rights, claims, 
and benefits under such Article III, and in addition to any and all 
other penalties imposed by law shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and 
upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than 
$1,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both such 
fine and imprisonment, for each such offense. 

Sec 28. That the allotments and family allowances, compensa¬ 
tion, and insurance payable under Articles II, III, and IV, respec- 
As amended June shall not be assignable; shall not be subject 

25 . 1918: sec. 402, to the claims of creditors of any person to whom an 
Act ct. 6, 191 1 . award is made under Articles II, III, or IV; and 
shall be exempt from all taxation: Provided , That such allotments 
and family allowances, compensation, and insurance shall be subject 
to any claims which the United States may have, under Articles II, 
III, and IV, against the person on whose account the allotments and 
family allowances, compensation, or insurance is payable. 

That the provisions of section 28 of the War Risk Insurance Act 
shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment by any person 
to whom converted insurance shall be payable un- 
24 A ? 9 e ux mcnt Dec ‘ der Article IV of such Act of his interest in such 
insurance to any other member of the permitted 
class of beneficiaries. 

Sec. 29. The discharge or dismissal of any person from the 
military or naval forces on the ground that he is guilty of mutiny, 
As amended Mar. treason, spying, or any offense involving moral 
4 , 1923; further turpitude, or willful and persistent misconduct, 
25, en i9i8, A nd Aug e of which lie has been found guilty by a court-mar- 
9 * 1921 * tial, or that he is an enemy alien, conscientious 

objector, or a deserter, shall terminate any insurance granted on the 
life of such person under the provisions of Article IV and shall bar 
all rights to any compensation under Article III or any insurance 
under Article IV: Provided , That, as to converted insurance, the 
cash surrender value thereof, if any, on the date of such discharge 
or dismissal shall be paid the insured, if living, and if dead to the 
designated beneficiary: Provided further, That an enemy alien who 
volunteered or who was drafted into the Army, Navy, or Marine 


14 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


Corps of the United States during the World War, and who was not 
discharged from the service on his own application or solicitation 
by reason of his being an enemy alien, and whose service was honest 
and faithful, shall be entitled to the benefits of the War Risk Insur¬ 
ance Act, and all amendments thereto: Provided further , That in 
case any person has been dishonorably discharged from the military 
or naval forces as a result of a court-martial trial, and it is there¬ 
after established to the satisfaction of the director that at the time 
of the commission of the offense resulting in such court-martial trial 
and discharge that such person was insane, such person shall be 
entitled to the compensation and insurance benefits of the War Risk 
Insurance Act: Provided further , That this section as amended 
shall be deemed to be in effect as of Apjril 6, 1917, and the director 
is hereby authorized and directed to make provision by bureau regu¬ 
lation for payment of any insurance claim or adjustment in insur¬ 
ance premium account of any insurance contract which would not 
now be affected by this section as amended. 

Sec. 30. That this Act may be cited as the war- 
Act June 25, 1918 . j_i s k insurance Act. 

Sec. 31. That if after induction by the local draft board, but 
before being accepted and enrolled for active service, the person 
died or became disabled as a result of disease con- 
Act Dec. 24, 1919 . tracted or injury suffered in the line of duty and 
not due to his own willful misconduct involving moral turpitude, or 
as a result of the aggravation, in the line of duty and not because of 
his own willful misconduct involving moral turpitude, of an existing 
disease or injury, he or those entitled thereto shall receive the benefits 
of compensation payable under Article III: Provided , That any 
insurance application made by a person after induction by the local 
draft board but before being accepted and enrolled for active service 
shall be deemed valid. 

(a) Any person who between the 6th day of April, 1917, and the 
11th day of November, 1918, applied for enlistment or enrollment 
in the military or naval forces, and who was ac- 
9 .l 92 i. dment Aug ‘ cepted provisionally and directed or ordered to a 
camp, post, station, or other place for final accept¬ 
ance into such service, shall be deemed to have the same status as an 
inducted man not yet accepted and enrolled for active service during 
the period while such person was complying with such order or 
direction, and during such compliance, and until his final acceptance 
or rejection for enlistment or enrollment into the military or naval 
forces, shall be entitled to the same benefits under Articles III and 
IV of the War Risk Insurance Act as an inducted man not yet 
accepted and enrolled for active service. 

The following new general provision is contained in section 19 of 
the Act of December 24, 1919: 

Sec. 19. That the amount of the monthly installments of allotment 
and family allowance, compensation, or yearly renewable term in- 
_ 24 iq 0 surance which has become payable under the pro- 

‘ c e °‘ “ ’ ' visions of the War Risk Insurance Act but which 

has not been paid prior to the death of the person entitled to receive 
the same may be payable to the personal representatives of the 
deceased person. 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


15 


Article. II. 


ALLOTMENTS AND FAMILY ALLOWANCES. 


Sec. 200 . That the provisions of this article shall apply to all 
enlisted men in the military or naval forces of the United States, 
except the Philippine Scouts, the insular force of 
2 r> A i 9 isl endcd June Navy, and the Samoan native guard and band 
of the Navy. 

Sec. 201 . That allotment of pay shall, subject to the conditions, 
limitations, and exceptions hereinafter specified, be compulsory as 
Act Oct 6 1917 *° w ^ e ’ a f° rmer wife divorced who has not remar¬ 

ried and to whom alimony has been decreed, and a 
child, and voluntary as to any other person; but on the written con¬ 
sent of the wife or former wife divorced, supported by evidence satis¬ 
factory to the bureau of her ability to support herself and the chil¬ 
dren in her custody, the allotment for her and for such children may 
\s amended June waived; and on the enlisted man’s application or 
25, 1918, effective otherwise for good cause shown, exemption from 
the allotment may be granted upon such conditions 
as may be prescribed by regulations. 

The monthly compulsory allotment shall be $15. For a wife living 
separate and apart from her husband under court order or written 
agreement, or for a former wife divorced, the monthly compulsory 
allotment shall not exceed the amount specified in the court order, 
decree, or written agreement to be paid to her, and for an illegiti¬ 
mate child, to whose support the father has been judicially ordered 
or decreed to contribute, it shall not exceed the amount fixed in the 
order or decree. 

If there is a compulsory allotment for a wife or child, then a for¬ 
mer wife divorced who has not remarried and to whom alimony has 
been decreed, shall not be entitled to a compulsory allotment, but 
shall be entitled to a family allowance as hereinafter provided. 

Sec. 202 . That the enlisted man may allot any proportion or 
proportions or any fixed amount or amounts of his monthly pay or 
of the proportion thereof remaining after the com- 
Act Oct. 6,1917. p U i sor y allotment, for such purposes and for the 
benefit of such person or persons as he may direct, subject, however, 
to such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed under regula¬ 
tions to be made by the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the 
Navy, respectively. 

Sec. 203. That in case one-half of an enlisted man’s monthly pay 
is not allotted, regulations to be made by the Secretary of War 
and the Secretary of the Navy, respectively^ may 
25 A i 9 i 8 3ended June require, under circumstances and conditions as 
may be prescribed in such regulations, that any 
proportion of such one-half pay as is not allotted shall be deposited 
to his credit, to be held during such period of his service as may 
be prescribed. Such deposit shall bear interest at the same rate as 
United States bonds bear for the same period, and, when payable, 
shall be paid principal and interest to the enlisted man, if living, 
otherwise to any beneficiary or beneficiaries he may have designated, 

49454—23 - 3 


16 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


or if there be no such beneficiary, then to the person or persons who, 
under the laws of the State of his residence, would be entitled to his 
personal property in case of intestacy. 

Sec. 204. That a family allowance of not exceeding $50 per month 
shall be granted and paid by the United States upon written applica¬ 
tion to the bureau by such enlisted man or by or 
Act Oct. 6,1917. on behalf of any prospective beneficiary, in accord¬ 
ance with and subject to the conditions, limitations, 
and exceptions hereinafter specified. 

The family allowance shall be paid from the time of enlistment 
to death in or one month after discharge from the service, but not 
for more than four months after the termination 
24 A ?oit ment Dec ‘ °f the present war emergency. No family allow¬ 
ance shall be made for any period preceding 
November 1,1917. The payment shall be subject to such regulations 
as may be prescribed relative to cases of desertion and imprisonment 
and of missing men. 1 

Class A. In the case of a man to his wife (including a former wife 
As amended June divorced) and to his child or children— 

25 , 1918 , effective (a) If there is a wife but no child, $15; 

(b) If there is a wife and one child, $25; 

(c) If there is a wife and two children, $32.50, with $5 per month 
additional for each additional child; 

(d) If there is no wife, but one child, $5; 

(e) If there is no wife, but two children, $12.50; 

(f) If there is no wife, but three children, $20 ; 

(g) If there is no wife, but four children, $30, with $5 per month 
additional for each additional child; 

(h) If there is a former wife divorced who has not remarried and 
to whom alimony has been decreed, $15. 

Class B. In the case of a man or woman to a grandchild, a parent, 
brother, or sister— » 

(a) If there is one parent, $10; 

(b) If there are two parents, $20; 

(c) If there is a grandchild, brother, sister, or additional parent, 
$5 for each. 

In the case of a woman, the family allowances for a husband and 
children shall be in the same amounts, respectively, as are payable, 
in the case of a man, to a wife and children, provided she makes a 
voluntary allotment of $15 as a basis therefor, and provided, further, 
that dependency exists as required in section two hundred and six. 

Sec. 205. That family allowances for members of Class A shall be 
paid only if and while a compulsory allotment is made to a member 
Oct 6 1917 or members suc h class. The monthly family 

c c ‘ ’ allowance to a former wife divorced shall be pay¬ 

able only out of the difference, if any, between the monthly family 
allowance to the other members of Class A and the sum of $50, and 


1 By the general deficiency appropriation act, approved Nov. 4, 1918 (40 Stat. 1024), 
it is provided : 

“ For the purpose of the payment of allotments made by the enlisted men or the pay¬ 
ment of family allowances under Article II of the Act o-f October 6, 1917, as amended, 
an enlisted man reported as missing in action shall be considered as occupying a pay 
status until his actual status has been determined bv proper official authority of the 
department in which the man served or is serving: Provided, That payments authorized 
hereunder shall not continue for more than one year.” 



THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


17 


only then if alimony shall have been decreed to her. For a wife 
living separate and apart under court order or written agreement 
or to a former wife divorced the monthly allowance, together with 
the allotment, if any, shall not exceed the amount specified in the 
court order, decree, or written agreement to be paid to her. For an 
illegitimate child, to whose support the father has been judicially 
ordered or decreed to contribute, it shall not exceed the amount fixed 
in the order or decree. 

Sec. 206. That family allowances to members of Class B shall be 
paid only if and while the members are dependent in whole or in part 

As amended June 011 f^ ie en li ste d man, and then only if and while the 
25 . iota, effective enlisted man makes a monthly allotment of his pay 
for such members in the following amounts: 

(a) If an enlisted man is not making a compulsory allotment for 
Class A the allotment for Class B required as a condition to the 
family allowance shall be $15; 

(b) If an enlisted man is making a compulsory allotment for 
Class A the additional allotment for Class B required as a condition 
to the family allowance shall be $5, or if a woman is making an allot¬ 
ment of $15 for a dependent husband or child the additional allot¬ 
ment for the other members of Class B required as a condition to the 
family allowance shall be $5. 

Sec. 207. That the amount of the family allowance to members of 
^ Class B shall be subject to each of the following 

limitations: 

(a) If an allowance is paid to one or more beneficiaries of Class A, 
the total allowance to be paid to the beneficiaries of Class B shall not 
exceed the difference between the allowance paid to the beneficiaries 
of Class A and the sum of $50. 

(b) The total monthly allowance to beneficiaries of Class B added 
to the enlisted man’s monthly allotment to them shall not exceed the 
average sum habitually contributed by him to their support monthly 
during the period of dependency but not exceeding a year imme¬ 
diately preceding his enlistment or the enactment of this amendatory 
Act. 

Sec. 208. That as between the members of Class A and as between 
the members of Class B, the amount of the allotment and family 
allowance shall be apportioned as may be pre- 

Act Oct. 6,1917. scr ibed by regulations. 

Sec. 209. The War and Navy Departments, respectively, shall pay 
over to the Treasury Department monthly the entire amount of 
such allotments for distribution to the beneficiaries, 

Act Oct. 6,1917. an( j the allotments and family allowances shall be 
paid by the bureau to or for the beneficiaries. 

Sec. 210. Upon receipt of any application for family allowance, 
the director shall make all proper investigations and shall make an 
award, on the basis of which award the amount of 
the allotments to be made by the man shall be cer¬ 
tified to the War Department or Navy Department, 
as may be proper. Whenever the director shall 
have reason to believe that an allowance has been 
improperly made or that the conditions have changed, he shall 
investigate or reinvestigate and may modify the award. The amount 


As amended Aug. 
9, 1921; amending 

the Act of .Tune 25, 
1918, and the Act of 
Feb. 25, 1919. 


18 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


of each monthly allotment and allowance shall be determined accord¬ 
ing to the family conditions existing on the first day of the month: 
Provided , That whenever an award of allotment or allowance, or 
both, covering any period has been paid to, or on behalf of, a person 
designated by the enlisted man as beneficiary of his allotment, no 
recovery of the allotments paid in such cases shall hereafter be made 
for any reason whatsoever; and no recovery of the allowance paid in 
such cases shall hereafter be made for any reason whatsoever except 
where it is shown that the person receiving the allowance does not 
bear the relationship to the enlisted man which is required by the War 
Risk Insurance Act, and except, also, in cases of manifest fraud. 

By the Act approved February 28, 1919 (Pub. 312-65 Cong.), it is 
provided: 

That in all of those cases in which an authority of allotment by an 
enlisted man directing the payment of an indicated amount to a 
designated beneficiary is on file in the Bureau of 
(ptbSiC'eFcong 1 ) War Risk Insurance, and payments pursuant.to 
this authority had been made by said bureau prior 
to July first, nineteen hundred and eighteen, but which payments 
were discontinued as of that date, the War and Navy Departments 
are directed to resume the payments of allotments in these cases, pur¬ 
suant to the authority on file as aforesaid, pending the receipt of a 
new authority, or of a written rescission of the old authority from 
the enlisted men. In these cases in which pending the receipt of the 
new authority, the military authorities, beginning with July first, 
nineteen hundred and eighteen, have reserved from month to month 
out of the soldier’s monthly accruing pay, the amount directed to be 
paid by the original authority of allotment, the War and Navy De¬ 
partments, upon resuming the payment 'of allotments in such cases, 
under the authority of this Act, shall pay all arrearages out of these 
respective reservations. 

Sec. 211 . That all family allowances and allotments payable by 
the Bureau of War Risk Insurance under the authority of this ar¬ 
ticle shall be discontinued at the end of the fourth 
24 f? 9 i 9 dment Dec * calendar month after the termination of the pres¬ 
ent war emergency, as declared by proclamation of 
the President of the United States, and thereafter all allotments of 
pay shall be voluntary and shall be made under such regulations as 
may be prescribed by the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the 
Navy, respectively. 

Article III. 


COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY. 

Sec. 300. For death or disability resulting from personal injury 
suffered or disease contracted in the line of duty on or after April 
6 , 1917, or for an aggravation of a disability exist¬ 
ing prior to examination, acceptance, and enroll¬ 
ment for service, when such aggravation was suf¬ 
fered and contracted in the line of duty on or after 
April 6, 1917, by any commissioned officer or en¬ 
listed man, or by any member of the Army Nurse 
Corps (female) or of the Navy Nurse Corps (female) when em- 


As amended Mar. 
4, 1923; further 
amending Acts Oct. 
6 , 1917; June 25. 
1918 ; Dec. 24, 1919 ; 
and Aug. 9, 1921. 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


19 


ployed in the active service under the War Department or Navy 
Department, the United States shall pay to such commissioned officer 
or enlisted man, member of the Army Nurse Corps (female) or of 
the Navy Nurse Corps (female) or, in the discretion of the director, 
separately to his or her dependents, compensation as hereinafter 
provided; but no compensation shall be paid if the injury, disease, 
or aggravation has been caused by his own willful misconduct. That 
for the purposes of this section every such officer, enlisted man, or 
other member employed in the active service under the War De¬ 
partment or Navy Department who was discharged or who resigned 
prior to August 9, 1921, and every such officer, enlisted man, or other 
member employed in the active service under the War Department 
or Navy Department on or before November 11, 1918, who on or 
after August 9, 1921, is discharged or resigns, shall be conclusively 
held and taken to have been in sound condition when examined, ac¬ 
cepted, and enrolled for service, except as to defects, disorders, or 
infirmities, made of record in any manner by proper authorities of the 
United States at the time of, or prior to, inception of active service, 
to the extent to which any such defect, disorder, or infirmity was 
so made of record: Provided , That an ex-service man who is shown 
to have a neuropsychiatric disease or an active tuberculous disease 
developing a 10 per centum degree of disability or more in accord¬ 
ance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of section 30% of the 
War Risk Insurance Act, as amended, and such showing was also 
made upon examination by a medical officer of the Veterans’ Bureau 
or by a legally qualified physician made within three years after 
separation from the active military or naval service of the United 
States, shall be considered to have acquired his disability in such 
service or to have suffered an aggravation of a preexisting neuropsy¬ 
chiatric disease or tuberculosis, in such service, but nothing in this 
proviso shall be construed to prevent a claimant from receiving 
the benefits of compensation and medical care and treatment for a 
disability due to these diseases of more than 10 per centum degree 
(in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2), section 302, 
of the War Risk Insurance Act as amended) at a date more than 
three years after separation from such service if the facts of the 
case substantiate his claim: And provided further , That compensa¬ 
tion as hereinafter provided may be paid for disability resulting 
from personal injury or disease contracted in line of duty prior to 
April 6, 1917, or for aggravation of a disability existing prior to 
examination, acceptance, and enrollment for service for such ag¬ 
gravation suffered and contracted in line of duty prior to April 6, 
1917, by any member of the military or naval forces in active service 
on April 6, 1917, who was discharged subsequent to April 6, 1917. 
With the exception of members of the military and naval forces 
whose injury was suffered or disease contracted prior to April 6, 
1917, this section shall be deemed to be in effect as of April 6, 
1917. 

Sec. 301. That if death results from injury— 

If the deceased leaves a widow or child, or if he leaves a mother or 
father either or both dependent upon him for sup- 

As amended June p or t the monthly compensation shall be the follow- 
mg amounts: 

(a) If there is a widow but no child, $25; 


20 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


(b) If there is a widow and one child, $35; 

(c) If there is a widow and two children, $42.50, with $5 for each 
additional child up to two; 

(d) If there is no widow, but one child, $20; 
2 sfi 9 i 8 l ended June (e) If there is no widow, but two children, $30; 

(f) If there is no widow, but three children, $40, 
with $5 for each additional child up to two; 

(g) (1) If there is a dependent mother (or dependent father), 
$20, or both $30. The amount payable under this subdivision shall 
As amended Mar n °t excee d the difference between the total amount. 
4 . 1923; further payable to the widow and children and the sum 
STSSf; Dec. Jl 24 ^ of $75. This compensation shall be payable for 
1921 / and Aug * 9 ’ the death of but one child, and no compensation 
for the death of a child shall be payable if the 
dependent mother is in receipt of compensation under the provisions 
of this article for the death of her husband. Such compensation shall 
be payable whether the dependency of the father or mother or both 
arises before or after the death of the person, but no compensation 
shall be payable if the dependency arises more than five' years after 
the death of the person. 

(2) If death occur or shall have occurred subsequent to April 
6, 1917, and before discharge or resignation from the service, the 
United ^States shall pay for burial expenses and the return of body to 
his home a sum not to exceed $100, as may be fixed by regulation. 
Where a veteran of any war dies after discharge or resignation from 
the service and does not leave sufficient assets to meet the expenses of 
his burial and the transportation of his body, and such expenses are 
not otherwise provided for, the United States Veterans’ Bureau shall 
pay the following sums: For a flag to drape the casket, and after 
burial to be given to the next of kin of the deceased, a sum not ex¬ 
ceeding $5; also for burial expenses, a sum not exceeding $100, to 
such person or persons as may be fixed by regulations: Provided , 
That subject to regulations, where death occurs while such person is 
receiving governmental medical, surgical or hospital treatment or 
vocational training, the United States Veterans’ Bureau shall pay, 
in addition to burial expenses, the actual and necessary cost of the 
transportation of the body of such person (including preparation of 
the body) to the place of burial within the continental limits of the 
United States. 

(3) The payment of compensation to a widow shall continue until 
her death or remarriage. 

(4) The payment of compensation to or for a child shall continue 
until such child reaches the age of eighteen years or marries, or if 
such child be incapable because of insanity, idiocy, or being other¬ 
wise permanently helpless, then during such incapacity. 

(5) Whenever the compensation payable to or for the benefit of 
any person under the provisions of this section is terminated by the 
happening of the contingency upon which it is limited, the compen¬ 
sation thereafter for the remaining beneficiary or beneficiaries, if 
any, shall be the amount which would have been payable to them if 
they had been the sole original beneficiaries. 

(6) As between the widow and the children not in her custody, 
and as between children, the amount of compensation shall be ap¬ 
portioned as may be prescribed by regulation. 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


21 


(7) The term widow as used in this section shall not include 
one who shall have married the deceased later than ten years after 
the time of injury, and shall include widower whenever his condition 
is such that if the deceased person were living he would have been 
dependent upon her for support. 

(8) That section 301 of the War Risk Insurance Act, as amended, 
shall be deemed to be in effect as of April 6, 1917: Provided , how¬ 
ever, That before compensation thereunder shall be paid there shall 
first be deducted from said sum so to be paid the amount of any 
payments such person may have received by way of gratuities or 
payments under pension laws in force and existence between April 6, 
1917, and October 6, 1917. 

Sec. 302. That if disability results from the injury— 

(1) If and while the disability is rated as total and temporary, 

the monthly compensation shall be the following 
24 As i 9 i a 9 mended Dec - amounts: 

(a) If the disabled person has neither wife nor 

child living, $80. 

(b) If he has a wife but no child living, $90. 

(c) If he has a wife and one child living, $95. 

(d) If he has a wife and two or more children living, $100. 

(e) If he has no wife and one child living, $90, with $5 for each 
additional child. 

(f) If he has a mother or father, either or both dependent on him 
for support, then, in addition to the above amounts, $10 for each 
parent so dependent. 

(2) If and while the disability is rated as partial and temporary, 
the monthly compensation shall be a percentage of the compensation 
that would be payable for his total and temporary disability, equal 
to the degree of the reduction in earning capacity resulting from 
the disability, but no compensation shall be payable for a reduction 
in earning capacity rated at less than 10 per centum. 

(3) If and while the disability is rated as total and permanent, 
the rate of compensation shall be $100 per month: Provided, however, 
That the loss of both feet, or both hands, or the sight of both eyes, or 
the loss of one foot and one hand, or one foot and the sight of one eye, 
or one hand and the sight of one eye, or becoming helpless and per¬ 
manently bedridden, shall be deemed to be total, permanent disa¬ 
bility: Provided further , That for double, total, permanent disability 
the rate of compensation shall be $200 per month. 

(4) If and while the disability is rated as partial and permanent, 
the monthly compensation shall be a percentage of the compensation 
that would* be payable for his total and permanent disability equal 
to the degree of the reduction in earning capacity resulting from the 
disability, but no compensation shall be payable for a reduction in 
earning capacity rated at less than 10 per centum. 

A schedule of ratings of reductions in earning capacity from spe¬ 
cific injuries or combinations of injuries of a permanent nature shall 
be adopted and applied by the bureau. Ratings may be as high as 
100 per centum. The ratings shall be based, as far as practicable, 
upon the average impairments of earning capacity resulting from 
such injuries in civil occupations and not upon the impairment in 
earning capacity in each individual case, so that there shall be no 


22 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


reduction in the rate of compensation for individual success in o\ei- 
coming the handicap of a permanent injury, The bureau in adopting 
the schedule of ratings of reduction in earning capacity shall con¬ 
sider the impairment in ability to secure employment which results 
from such injuries. The bureau shall from time to time lead just 
this schedule of ratings in accordance with actual experience. 

( 5 ) 2 If the disabled person is so helpless as to be in constant need 
of a nurse or attendant, such additional sum shall be paid, but not 

exceeding $20 per month, as the director may deem 

as amended Dec. reasonable, and if the disabled person is blind, leg- 
amending’ Acts June less or armless and is in constant need 01 a nurse or 
24’ 1919 8 ’ and Dec * attendant, such additional sum shall be paid, but 
not exceeding $50 per month, as the Director may 

deem reasonable. 

( 6 ) 3 In addition to the compensation above provided, the injured 
person shall be furnished by the United States such reasonable 

governmental medical, surgical, and hospital serv- 
4 A | 9 " d r ther i° es anc * such supplies, including wheel chairs, 
amending Acts Oct. artificial limbs, trusses, and similar appliances, as 
1919. 17 ’ and DeC ’ 24, the director may determine to be useful and reason¬ 
ably necessary, which wheeled chairs, artificial 
limbs, trusses, and similar appliances may be procured by the United 
States Veterans’ Bureau in such manner, either by purchase or manu¬ 
facture, as the director may determine to be advantageous and reason¬ 
ably necessary: Provided , That nothing in this Act shall be con¬ 
strued to affect the necessary military control over any member of 
the Military or Naval Establishments before he shall have been dis¬ 
charged from the military or naval service: Provided , That all hos¬ 
pital facilities under the control and jurisdiction of the United States 
Veterans’ Bureau, shall be available for veterans of the Spanish- 
American War, the Philippine insurrection, and the Boxer rebellion, 
suffering from neuropsychiatric or tubercular ailments and diseases, 
including transportation as granted to those receiving compensation 
and hospitalization under the War Bisk Insurance Act . 4 

( 7 ) Where the disabled person and his wife are not living together, 

As amended Dec. or where the children are not in the custody of the 

amending Act ^ne disabled person the amount of the compensation 
25, 1918 . shall be apportioned as may be prescribed by 

regulations. 

( 8 ) The term “wife” as used in this section shall include “hus¬ 
band ” if the husband is dependent upon the wife for support. 

2 This amendment is not retroactive. Subdivision (5) as amended by the Act of Dec. 
24. 1919, reads as follows : 

“(5) If the disabled person is so helpless as to be in constant need of a nurse or 
attendant, such additional sum shall be paid, but not exceeding $20 per month, as the 
director may deem reasonable.” 

3 l’ublic Resolution No. 63, 67 th Congress: 

“ Joint Resolution Providing for the disposal of articles produced by patients in the 

United States Veterans’ Bureau. 

“ Resolved by the Senate and House o) Representatives of the United States in Con¬ 
gress assembled. That the Director of the United States Veterans’ Bureau is authorized 
to make regulations governing the disposal of articles produced by patients of such 
bureau in the course of their curative treatment, either by allowing the patients to retain 
the same or by selling the articles and depositing the money received to the credit of 
the appropriation from which materials for making the articles were purchased.” 

4 The appropriations for the fiscal years 1923 and 1924 have included authority for 
payment of expenses “ including court costs and other expenses incident to proceedings 
heretofore or hereafter taken for commitment of mentally incompetent persons to hospi¬ 
tals for the care and treatment of the insane.” (Act making appropriation for the 
Executive office and sundry independent bureaus, etc., approved Feb. 13, 1923.) 



THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


23 


(9) That the Bureau of TV ar Risk Insurance is hereby authorized 
to furnish transportation, also the medical, surgical, and hospital 
. . . _ services and the supplies and appliances provided 

24* mo men e<? * by subdivision (6) hereof, to discharged members 
of the military or naval forces of those Govern¬ 
ments which have been associated in war with the United States since 
April 6, 1917, and come within the provisions of laws of such Gov¬ 
ernments similar to the War Risk Insurance Act, at such rates and 
under such regulations as the Director of the Bureau of War Risk 
Insurance may prescribe; and the Bureau of War Risk Insurance is 


hereby authorized to utilize the similar services, supplies, and ap¬ 
pliances provided for the discharged members of the military and 
naval forces of those Governments which have been associated in war 
with the United States since April 6, 1917, by the laws of such Gov¬ 
ernments similar to the War Risk Insurance Act, in furnishing the 
discharged members of the military and naval forces of the United 
States who live within the territorial limits of such Governments 
and come within the provisions of subdivision (6) hereof, with the 
services, supplies, and appliances provided for in such subdivision; 
and any appropriations that have been or may hereafter be made for 
the purpose of furnishing the services, supplies, and appliances pro¬ 
vided for by subdivision (6) hereof are hereby made available for 
the payment to such Governments or their agencies for the services, 
supplies, and appliances so furnished at such rates and under such 
regulations as the Director of the Bureau of War Risk Insurance 
may prescribe. 

(10) That section 302 of the War Risk Insurance Act as amended 
shall be deemed to be in effect as of April 6,1917: Provided , That any 
person who is now receiving a gratuity or pension 
24 A m n o dment DeC ‘ lin( ^ er existing law shall not receive compensation 
under this Act unless he shall first surrender all 


claim to such gratuity or pension. 

Sec. 303. That every person applying for or in receipt of com¬ 
pensation for disability under the provisions of this article shall, as 
frequently and at such times and places as may be 

Act Oct. 6.1917. reasonably required, submit himself to examina¬ 
tion by a medical officer of the United States or by a duly qualified 
physician designated or approved by the director. He may have a 
duly qualified physician designated and paid by him present to 
participate in such examination. For all examinations he shall, in 
the discretion of the director, be paid his reasonable traveling and 
other expenses and also loss of wages incurred in order to submit to 
such examination. If he refuses to submit himself for, or in any way 
obstructs, any examination, his right to claim compensation under 
this article shall be suspended until such refusal or obstruction ceases. 
Xo compensation shall be payable while such refusal or obstiuction 
continues, and no compensation shall be payable for the intervening 

Every person in receipt of compensation for disability shall subrnit 
to any reasonable medical or surgical treatment furnished by t e 
bureau whenever requested by the bureau; and the consequences ot 
unreasonable refusal to submit to any such treatment shall not be 
deemed to result from the injury compensated for. 


49454—23-4 



24 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


As amended Mar. 
4, 1923; further 
amending Acts Oct. 
6, 1917, and Aug. 9, 
1921. 


Sec. 304. [This section was repealed by act of June 27, 1918— 
vocational rehabilitation act—Public-—No. 178—65th Cong.] 

Sec. 305. Upon its own motion or upon application the bureau 
may at any time review an award, and, in accordance with the facts 
found upon such review, may end, diminish, or 
9 , i 92 i mended Aug ' increase the compensation previously awarded, or, 
if compensation is increased, or, if compensation 
has been refused, reduced or discontinued, may award compensation 
in proportion to the degree of disability sustained as of the date such 
degree of disability began, but not earlier than the date of discharge 
or resignation. 

Sec. 306. That no compensation shall be payable for death or 
disability which does not occur prior to or within one year after 
discharge or resignation from the service, except 
that where after medical examination made on evi¬ 
dence submitted pursuant to regulations, a certifi¬ 
cate has been obtained from the director at the time 
of discharge or resignation from the service or 
prior to the expiration of one year after the passage of this amenda¬ 
tory Act to the effect that the injured person at the time of his dis¬ 
charge or resignation was suffering from injury likely to result in 
death or disability, such certificate, except in case of fraud, shall be 
incontestable evidence that the injury for which it is issued was 
suffered in or aggravated by service, and compensation shall be pay¬ 
able in accordance with the provisions of Article III of the War 
Risk Insurance Act, as amended, for death or disability whenever 
occurring, proximately resulting from such injury: Provided , That 
such certificate shall issue only where there is an official record of the 
injury during service or at the time of separation from active service, 
or where before March 1, 1924, satisfactory evidence is furnished the 
bureau to establish that the injury was suffered or aggravated during 
active service: Provided , That where there is official record of injury 
during service, compensation shall be payable in accordance with 
the provisions of said Article III for death or disability whenever 
occurring, proximately resulting from such injury. 

Sec. 307. That compensation shall not be payable for death in the 
course of the service until the death be officially recorded in the 
department under which he may be serving. No 
compensation shall be payable for a period during 
which the man has been reported “ missing ” and a family allowance 
has been paid for him under the provisions of Article II. 

Sec. 308. 6 That no compensation shall be payable for death 
inflicted as a lawful punishment for crime or military offense except 

as amended Mar. when inflicted by the enemy. A dismissal or dis- 
4 > 1923, charge by sentence of court-martial from the 

service shall bar and terminate all right to any compensation under 
the provisions of this article for the period of service from which 
such discharge is given. 

B This amendment is not retroactive. Section 308 of the Act of Oct. 6 1917 reads as 
follows ; 

“That no compensation shall be payable for death inflicted as a lawful punishment 
for a crime or military offense except when inflicted by the enemy. A dismissal or dis¬ 
honorable or bad conduct discharge from the service shall bar and terminate all right to 
any compensation under the provisions of this article.” 


Act Oct. 6, 1917. 




THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


25 


Sec. 309. That no compensation shall be payable unless a claim 
therefor be filed, in case of disability, within five years after dis- 
Act Oct. 6,1917. charge or resignation from the service, or, in case 
of death during the service, within five years after 
such death is officially recorded in the department under which he 
may be serving: Provided, however, That where compensation is 
payable for death or disability occurring after discharge or resigna¬ 
tion from the service, claim must be made within five years after 
such death or the beginning of such disability. 

The time herein provided may be extended by the director not to 
exceed one year for good cause shown. If at the time that any right 
accrues to any person under the provisions of this article, such person 
is a minor, or is of unsound mind or physically unable to make a 
claim, the time herein provided shall not begin to run until such 
disability ceases. 

Sec. 310. That no compensation shall be payable for any period 
Act Oct 6 1917 mo#re than two years prior to.the date of claim there- 
‘ c ’ ' for, nor shall increased compensation be awarded to 

revert back more than one year prior to the date of claim therefor. 

Sec. 311. [This section was repealed by act of June 25, 1918. The 
substance is now included in section 28.] 

Sec. 312. 6 That compensation under this article shall not be paid 
while the person is in receipt of service or retirement pay. The laws 
providing for gratuities or payments in the event 
25 A ‘i 9 ?s! ended June death in the service and existing pension laws 
shall not be applicable after the enactment of this 
amendment to any person in the active military or naval service on 
the sixth .day of October, nineteen hundred and seventeen, or who 
thereafter entered the active military or naval service, or to their 
widows, children, or their dependents, except in so far as rights 
under any such law have heretofore accrued. 

Compensation because of disability or death of members of the 
Army Nurse Corps (female) or of the Navy Nurse Corps (female) 
shall be in lieu of any compensation for such disability or death 
under the Act entitled “ An Act to provide compensation for em¬ 
ployees of the United States suffering injuries while in the perform¬ 
ance of their duties, and for other purposes,” approved September 
seventh, nineteen hundred and sixteen. 

Sec. 313. (1) That if an injury of death for which compensation 
is payable under this article is caused under circumstances creating 
a legal liability upon some person other than the 
25 A i 9 i 8 lended June United States or the enemy to pay damages there¬ 
for, the director, as a condition to payment of com¬ 
pensation by the United States, may require the beneficiary to assign 
to the United States any right of action he may have to enforce 
such liability of such other person, or if it appears to be for the 
best interests of the beneficiary the director may require him to 
prosecute the said action in his own name, subject to regulations. 

8 Public No. 361, approved Sept. 22, 1922, reads as follows: 

“ Be it enacted bn the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of 

America in Conr/rcss assembled. That section 312 of the War Risk Insurance Act, as 
amended by section 17 of the Act of .lune 25, 1918 (lortieth Statutes, P a £e 613', shall 
not be construed as making: the pension laws inapplicable to persons admitted into the 
military or naval service after six months from the passage of the Act of August J, 1921, 
establishing the Veterans’ Bureau and adding section 315 to the War Risk Insurance Act. 



26 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


The director may require such assignment or prosecution at any 
time after the injury or death, and the failure on the part of the 
beneficiary to so assign or to prosecute said cause of action in his 
own name within a reasonable time, to be fixed by the director, shall 
bar any right to compensation on account of the same injury or 
death. The cause of action so assigned to the United States may be 
prosecuted or compromised by the director, and any money realized 
or collected thereon, less the reasonable expenses of such realization 
or collection, shall be placed to the credit of the military and naval 
compensation appropriation. If the amount placed to the credit of 
such appropriation in such case is in excess of the amount of the 
award of compensation, if any, such excess shall be paid to the bene¬ 
ficiary after any compensation award for the same injury or death 
is made. 

If a beneficiary or conditional beneficiary shall have recovered, as. 
a result of a suit brought by him or on his behalf, or as a result of a 
settlement made by him or *on his behalf, any 
2 sfi 9 i n 8 dment June money or other property in satisfaction of the 
liability of such other person, such money or other 
property so recovered shall be credited upon any compensation pay¬ 
able, or which may become payable, to such beneficiary, or condi¬ 
tional beneficiary by the United States on account of the same injury 
or death. 

(2) If an injury or death for which compensation may be pay¬ 
able under this article is caused under circumstances creating a 
legal liability upon some person, other than the United States or 
the enemy, to pa) 7 damages therefor, then, in order to preserve the 
right of action, the director may require the conditional beneficiary 
at any time after the injury or death, to assign such right* of action 
to the United States, or, rf it appears to be for the best interests 
of such conditional beneficiary, to prosecute the said cause of action 
in his own name, subject to regulations. The failure on the part 
of the beneficiary to so assign or to prosecute the said cause of action 
in his own name within a reasonable time, to be fixed by the director, 
shall bar any right to compensation on account of the same injury or 
death. The cause of action so assigned may be prosecuted or com¬ 
promised by the director, and any money realized or collected 
thereon, less the reasonable expenses of such realization or collec¬ 
tion, shall be paid to such beneficiary, and be credited upon any 
future compensation which may become payable to such beneficiary 
by the United States on account of the same injury or death. 

(2a) The Veterans’ Bureau is hereby authorized to pay the bene¬ 
ficiary or other person or persons in whose name an action may have 
Amendment Aug. been commenced or prosecuted, and to all witnesses 
9 * 1921 - in such action, fees and mileage, the same as is now 

paid and allowed to witnesses in the United States courts, in going 
to, remaining at, and returning from place of trial, and without any 
regard to whether the action, if any, is brought or prosecuted in a 
court of the United States or some other court. 

In all cases of assignment of causes of action under this section, 
whether the assignment be heretofore or hereafter made, where it 
shall appear to the director to be to the best interests of the bene¬ 
ficiary so to do, the director, acting for and in the name of the United 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


27 


States, may assign the cause of action back to the beneficiary or to 
his personal representatives. 

(3) The bureau shall make all necessary regulations for carrying 
out the purposes of this section. For the purpose of computation 
Amendment June only under this section the total amount of com- 
25 > 1918 - pensation due any beneficiary shall be deemed to be 

equivalent to a lump sum equal to the present value of all future pay¬ 
ments of compensation computed as of the date of the award of com¬ 
pensation at four per centum, true discount, compounded annually. 
The probability of the beneficiary’s death before the expiration of 
the period during which he is entitled to compensation shall be deter¬ 
mined according to the American Experience Table of Mortality. 

A conditional beneficiary is any person who may become entitled 
to compensation under this article on or after the death of the injured 
person. 

Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose any adminis¬ 
trative duties upon the War or Navy Departments. 

Sec. 314. That from and after the passage of this Act the rate of 
pension for a widow of an officer or enlisted man of the Army, Navy, 
p ioi 7 or Marine Corps of the United States who served 

ct ’ in the Civil War, the War with Spain, or the 

Philippine Insurrection, now on the pension roll or hereafter to be 
placed on th$ pension roll, and entitled to receive a less rate than 
hereinafter provided, shall be $25 per month; and nothing herein 
shall be construed to affect the additional allowance provided by 
existing pension laws on account of a helpless child or child under 
sixteen years of age: Provided , however , That this Act shall not be 
so construed as to reduce any pension under any Act, public or 
private; And provided further , That the provisions of this section 
shall be administered, executed, and enforced by the Commissioner 
of Pensions. 

Sec. 315. 7 That no person admitted into the military or naval 
forces of the United States after six months from the passage of 
Amendment Aug. this amendatory Act shall be entitled to the com- 
9 > 1921 - pensation or any other benefits or privileges pro¬ 

vided under the provisions of Article III of the War Risk Insurance 
Act. as amended. 


Article IV. 

INSURANCE. 

Sec. 400. That in order to give to every commissioned officer and 
enlisted man and to every member of the Army Nurse Corps* (female) 
oct 6 1917 an d the Navy Nurse Corps (female) when 

Act c ' ’ ' employed in active service under the War Depart¬ 

ment or Navy Department greater protection for themselves and 
their dependents than is provided in Article III, the United States, 
upon application to the bureau and without medical examination, 


7 Tublic No. 361, approved Sept. 22, 1922, reads as follows: 

“ Be it enacted bi) the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of 
America in Congress assembled. That section 312 of the War Risk Insurance Act, as 
amended bv section 17 of the Act of June 25, 1918 (Fortieth Statutes, page 613), shall 
not be construed as making the pension laws inapplicable to persons admitted into the 
military or naval service after six months from the passage of the Act of August 9, 1921, 
establishing the Veterans’ Bureau and adding section 315 t® the War Risk Iasurance Act. 



28 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT, 


shall grant insurance against the death or total permanent disability 
of any such person in any multiple of $500, and not less than $1,000 
or more than $10,000, upon the payment of the premiums as herein¬ 
after provided. 

Sec. 401. * * * * * * * 8 That such insurance must be applied for within one 
hundred and twenty days after enlistment or after entrance into or 
employment in the active service and before clis- 
o 4 A !o?rSther charge or resignation, except that those persons who 
amending the section are in the active war service at the time of the 
i 9 is mended June publication of the terms and conditions of such 
contract of insurance may apply at any time within 
one hundred and twenty days thereafter and while in such service: 9 
Provided , That any person in the active service on or after the 6th 
day of April, 1917, and before the 11th day of November, 1918, who 
while in such active service made application for insurance after the 
expiration of more than one hundred and twenty days after October 
15, 1917, or more than one hundred and twenty days after entrance 
into or employment in the active service, and whose application was 


8 Section 401. as amended June 25, 1918, is in effect as of Oct. 6, 1917 : 

“ Provided, That nothing herein shall be construed to interfere with the payment of 

monthly installments, authorized to be made under the provisions of said section 401 as 

originally enacted, for the months up to and including June, 1918: Provided further. 
That all awards of automatic insurance under the provisions of said section 401 as 

originally enacted shall be revised as of the 1st day of July, 1918, in accordance with the 

provisions of said section 401 as amended.” (Extract from section 20 of Act of June 

25, 1918.) 

8 The time within which application must be made was extended by the following Joint 
Resolutions : 

[Pub. Res.—N o. 22—65 th Cong.] 

[S. J. Res. 128.] 

Joint Resolution Granting to certain persons in the active war service an extension of 
time within which application for insurance may be made under section four hundred 
and one of the Act entitled “An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War 
Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department,” approved September second, nineteen 
hundred and fourteen, as amended by the Act approved October sixth, nineteen hundred 
and seventeen. 

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America 
in Congress assembled. That the time within which application for insurance may be 
made as set forth in section four hundred and one of the Act entitled “An Act to author¬ 
ize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department,” 
approved September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, as amended by the Act ap¬ 
proved October sixth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, is hereby extended, with respect 
to every person in the active war service as to whom the time for making application 
would expire before the twelfth day of April, nineteen hundred and eighteen, so that 
every such person may make application for insurance up to and including the said 
twelfth day of April, nineteen hundred and eighteen : Provided, That nothing herein shall 
be construed to effect an extension of the automatic insurance provided for in the said 
section four hundred and one beyond the twelfth day of February, nineteen hundred and 
eighteen. 

Approved, February 12, 1918. 

[Pub. Res.— No. 27—65th Cong.] 

[S. J. Res. 133.] 

Joint Resolution Authorizing the granting of insurance under the Act entitled “An .Act 
to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury 
Department,” approved September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, as amended 
by the Act approved October sixth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, on application by 
a person other than the person to be insured. 

Resolved by the Senate and, House of Representatives of the United States of America 
in Congress assembled. That insurance under the Act entitled “An Act to authorize the 
establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department,” approved 
September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, as amended by the Act approved Octo¬ 
ber sixth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, shall be granted by the Bureau of War Risk 
Insurance on application made by the person to be insured or, subject to such regulations 
as the bureau may prescribe, by any person within the permitted class as specified in 
section four hundred and two of said Act: Provided, That the person to be insured has 
been taken a prisoner of war before April twelfth, nineteen hundred and eighteen : And 
provided further, That no one but the insured may designate a beneficiary, and nothing 
in this resolution shall be deemed to change or affect the permitted class of beneficiaries 
or impose any obligation on the insured against Iris will. 

Approved, April 2, 1918. 



THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


29 


accepted and a policy issued thereon, and from whom premiums were 
collected, and who becomes or had become totally and permanently 
disabled, or dies or has died, shall be deemed to have made legal 
application for such insurance and the policy issued on such applica¬ 
tion shall be valid. Any person in the active service on or after 
the 6th day of April, 1917, and before the 11th day of November, 
1918, who, while in such service, and before the expiration of one 
hundred and twenty days after October 15, 1917, or one hundred 
and twenty days after entrance into or employment in the active 
service, becomes or has become totally and permanently disabled, or 
dies or has died, without having applied for insurance, shall be 
deemed to have applied for and to have been granted insurance, pay¬ 
able to such person during his life in monthly installments of $25 
each; and any person inducted into the service by a local draft board 
after the 6th day of April, 1917, and before the 11th day of Novem¬ 
ber, 1918, who, while in such service, and before being accepted and 
enrolled for active military or naval service, becomes or has become 
totally and permanently disabled, or dies or has died, without having 
applied for insurance, shall be deemed to have applied for and to 
have been granted insurance, payable to such person during his life 
in monthly installments of $25 each. If he shall die either before 
he shall have received any of such monthly installments or before he 
shall have received two hundred and forty of such monthly install¬ 
ments, then $25 per month shall be paid to his widow from the time 
of his death and during her widowhood; or if there is no widow sur¬ 
viving him, then to his child or children; or if there is no child sur¬ 
viving him, then to his mother; or if there be no mother surviving 
him, then to his father, if and while they survive him: Provided , 
however , That no more than two hundred and forty of such monthly 
installments, including those received by such person during his 
total and permanent disability, shall be so paid. The amount of the 
monthly installments shall be apportioned between children as may 
be provided by regulations: Provided further , That each officer and 
enlisted man attached to the United States ship Cyclops on the 4th 
day of March, 1918, and every officer and enlisted man who on said 
date was a passenger on said vessel shall be deemed to have been 
granted insurance in the sum of $5,000 permitted under the War 
Risk Insurance Act. 

Sec. 402. That the director, subject to the general direction of the 
Secretary of the Treasury, shall promptly determine upon and pub¬ 
lish the full and exact terms and conditions of such 
25 A i 9 i 8 ended June contract of insurance. The insurance shall be pay¬ 
able only to a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, 
brother, or sister, and also during total and permanent disability to. 
the injured person, or to any or all of them. 

Section 13 of the Act of December 24, 1919, amends this part of 
section 402 as follows: 

That the permitted class of beneficiaries for insurance as specified 
in section 402 of the War Risk Insurance Act is hereby enlarged 
so as to include, in addition to the persons therein 
‘> 4 A i 9 i 9 Dended DeC * enumerated, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, brothers- 
in-law and sisters-in-law of the insured. This 
section shall be deemed to be in effect as of October 6, 191 ( : Pro - 


30 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


vided , That nothing herein shall be construed to interfere with the 
payment of the monthly installments authorized to be made under 
the provisions of said War Risk Insurance Act, as originally enacted 
and subsequently amended, up to and including the second calendar 
month after the passage of this Act: Provided further , That all 
awards of insurance Under the provisions of the said War Risk In¬ 
surance Act, as originally enacted and subsequently amended, shall 
be revised as of the first day of the third calendar month after the 
passage of this Act, in accordance with the provisions of the said 
War Risk Insurance Act as modified by this amendatory Act. 

Section 402 continues: 

The insurance shall be payable in two hundred and forty equal 
monthly installments. Provisions for maturity at certain ages, for 
Act Oct 6 1917 continuous installments during the life of the in¬ 
sured or beneficiaries, or both, for cash, loan, paid 
up and extended values, dividends from gains and savings, and such 
other provisions for the protection and advantage of and for alter¬ 
native benefits to the insured and the beneficiaries as may be found 
to be reasonable and practicable, may be provided for in the contract 
of insurance, or from time to time by regulations. All calculations 
shall be based upon the American Experience Table of Mortality 
and interest at three and one-lialf per centum per annum, except that 
no deduction shall be made for continuous installments during the 
life of the insured in case his total and permanent disability con¬ 
tinues more than two hundred and forty months. Subject to regu¬ 
lations, the insured shall at all times have the right to change the 
beneficiary or beneficiaries of such insurance without the consent 
of such beneficiary or beneficiaries, but only within the classes herein 
provided. [If no beneficiary within the permitted class be desig¬ 
nated by the insured, either in his lifetime or by his last will and 
testament, or if the designated beneficiary does not survive the in¬ 
sured, the insurance shall be payable to such person or persons within 
the permitted class of beneficiaries as would under the laws of the 
State of the residence of the insured be entitled to his personal 
property in case of intestacy.] 

Sections 15 arid 16 of the Act of December 24, 1919, in effect 
amend the sentence enclosed in brackets as follows: 

That if any person to whom such yearly renewable term insurance 
has been awarded dies, or his rights are otherwise terminated after 
the death of the insured, but before all of the two 
2 ifi 9 i 9 ? ended ^ hundred and forty monthly installments have been 
paid, then the monthly installments payable and 
applicable shall be payable to such person or persons within the per¬ 
mitted class of beneficiaries as would, under the laws of the State of 
residence of the insured, be entitled to his personal property in case 
of intestacy; and if the permitted class of beneficiaries be exhausted 
before all of the two hundred and forty monthly installments have 
been paid, then there shall be paid to the estate of the last surviving 
person within the permitted class the remaining unpaid monthly 
installments. 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


31 


That if no beneficiary within the permitted class be designated 
by the insured as beneficiary for converted insurance, granted under 
the provisions of Article IV of the War Risk Insurance Act, either 
in his lifetime or by his last will and testament, or if the designated 
beneficiary does not survive the insured, then there shall be paid to 
the estate of the insured the remaining unpaid monthly installments; 
or if the designated beneficiary survives the insured and dies before 
receiving all of the installments of converted insurance payable and 
applicable, then there shall be paid to the estate of such beneficiary 
the remaining unpaid monthly installments. 


Section 402 continues: 

[If no such person survive the insured, then there shall be paid to 
the estate of the insured an amount equal to the reserve value, if any, 
of the insurance at the time of his death, calculated 

c c ' ’ ’ on the basis of the American Experience Table of 

Mortality and three and one-half per centum interest in full of all 
obligations under the contract of insurance.] 

The last sentence in section 402, enclosed in brackets, is in effect 
repealed and rendered obsolete by section 14 of the Act of December 
24, 1919, which is now included in section 407. 

The following subsection (a) was added to section 402 by the 
Act of August 9, 1921: 

(a) Where a beneficiary at the time of designation by the insured 
is within the permitted class of beneficiaries and is the designated 
beneficiary at the time of the maturity of the in- 
9 io 2 i! dment Aug - surance because of the death of the insured, such 
beneficiary shall be deemed to be within the per¬ 
mitted class evgn though the status of such beneficiary shall have 
been changed. 

Sec. 403. That the United States shall bear the expenses of admin¬ 
istration and the excess mortality and disability cost resulting 
from the hazards of war. The premium rates 

Act Oct. , . s ] la ii b e the net rates based upon the American Ex¬ 

perience Table of Mortality and interest at three and one-half per 
centum per annum. 

Section 18 of the Act of December 24, 1919, provides: 

That all premiums paid on account of insurance converted under 
the provisions of Article IV of the War Risk Insurance Act shall be 
deposited and covered into the Treasury to the 
24 A Si 9 dment DeC ' credit of the United States Government life insur¬ 
ance fund and shall be available for the payment 
of losses, dividends, refunds, and other benefits provided for under 
such insurance. Payments from this fund shall be made upon and 
in accordance with awards by the director. 

The Bureau of War Risk Insurance is hereby authorized to set 
aside out of the fund so collected such reserve funds as may be re¬ 
quired, under accepted actuarial principles, to meet all liabilities 
under such insurance; and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby 


32 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


authorized to invest and reinvest the said United States Govern¬ 
ment life insurance fund, or any part thereof, in interest-bearing 
obligations of the United States and to sell the obligations for the 
purposes of the said fund. 

Sec. 404. During the period of the war and thereafter until con¬ 
verted the insurance shall be term insurance for successive terms of 
one year each. Not later than live years after the 
9 , i 92 i. mended Aus ‘ date thft termination of the war as declared by 
proclamation of the President of the United States 
the term insurance shall be converted, without medical examination, 
into such form or forms of insurance as may be prescribed by regula¬ 
tions and as the insured may request. Regulations shall provide for 
the right to convert into ordinary life, twenty-payment life, endow¬ 
ment maturing at age sixty-two, and into other usual forms of 
insurance, and shall prescribe the time and method of payment of 
the premiums thereon, but payments of premiums in advance shall 
not be required for periods of more than one month each and may be 
deducted from the pay or deposit of the insured or be otherwise 
made at his election. 

In case where an insured whose yearly renewable term insurance 
has matured by reason of total permanent disability is found and 
declared to be no longer permanently and totally disabled, and where 
the insured is required under regulations to renew payment of pre¬ 
miums on said term insurance, and where this contingency is ex¬ 
tended beyond the five-year period during which said yearly re¬ 
newable term insurance otherwise must be converted, there shall be 
given such insured an additional period of two years from the date, 
on which he is required to renew payment of premiums in which 
to convert said term insurance as hereinbefore provided. 

Section 17 of the Act of December 24, 1919, provides: 

That the Bureau of War Risk Insurance may make provision in 
the contract for converted insurance for optional settlements, to be 
selected by the insured, whereby such insurance 
24 fi 9 i 9 dment Dec * ma y ma de payable either in one* sum or in in¬ 
stallments for thirty-six months or more. The 
bureau may also include in said contract a provision authorizing 
the beneficiary to elect to receive payment of the insurance in in¬ 
stallments for thirty-six months or more, but only if the insured has 
not exercised the right of election as hereinbefore provided; and 
even though the insured may have exercised his right of election, the 
said contract may authorize the beneficiary to elect to receive such 
insurance in installments spread over a greater period of time than 
that selected by the insured. 

Sec. 405. [This section was repealed by act of May 20, 1918. The 
substance is now included in Section 13.] 

Sec. 406. Whenever benefits under United States Government life 
insurance (converted insurance) become or have become payable 
because of total permanent disability of the in- 
9 , im. dment Aug * sured or because of the death of the insured as 
a result of disease or injury traceable to the extra 
hazard of the military or naval service as such hazard may be de- 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


33 


termined by the director, the liability shall be borne by the United 
States, and the director is hereby authorized and directed to transfer 
from the military and naval insurance appropriation to the United 
States Government life insurance fund a sum which, together with 
the reserve of the policy at the time of maturity by total permanent 
disability or death, will equal the then value of such benefits. 
When a person receiving total permanent disability benefits under 
a United States Government life policy (converted policy) recovers 
from such disability and is then entitled to continue a reduced 
amount of insurance, the director is hereby authorized and directed 
to transfer to the military and naval insurance appropriation all 
of the lofes reserve to the credit of such policy claim except a sum 
sufficient to set up the then required reserve on the reduced amount of 
insurance that may be continued, which sum shall be retained in the 
United States Government life insurance fund for the purpose of 
such reserve. 

Sec. 407. If no person within the permitted class of beneficiaries 
survive the insured, then there shall be paid to the estate of the 
Amendment a us?, insured the monthly installments payable and ap- 
9. 1921. Amends plicable under the provisions of Article IV of the 
of th° c Act 8 of e< Dec. War Risk Insurance Act: Provided , That in cases 
24, 1919, * where the estate of the insured would escheat under 

the laws of the place of his residence the insurance shall not be paid 
to the estate of the insured, but shall escheat to the United States 
and shall be credited to the United States Government life in¬ 
surance fund or the military and naval insurance appropriation, as 
may be proper. This section shall be deemed to be in effect as of 
October 6, 1917. 

Sec. 408. In the event that all provisions of the rules and regu¬ 
lations other than the requirements as to the physical condition of 

\ 8 amended Mar the a ppli can ^ f° r insurance have been complied 
4. ‘ 1923? amending with, an application for reinstatement of lapsed 
Act Aug. 9, 1921. or cance j ec i yearly renewable term insurance or ap¬ 
plication for United States Government life insurance (converted 
insurance) hereafter made may be approved: Provided , That the 
applicant’s disability is the result of an injury or disease, or of 
an aggravation thereof, suffered or contracted in the active military 
or naval service during the World War: Provided further , That 
the applicant during his lifetime submits proof satisfactory to 
the director showing the service origin of the disability or aggra¬ 
vation thereof and that the applicant is not totally and permanently 
disabled. As a condition, however, to the acceptance of an appli¬ 
cation for the reinstatement of lapsed or canceled yearly renewable 
term insurance or United States Government life insurance (con¬ 
verted insurance) the applicant shall be required to pay all the 
back monthly premiums which would have become payable if such 
insurance had not lapsed, together with interest at the rate of 5 
per centum per annum compounded annually on each premium 
from the date said premium is due by the terms of the policy: 
Provided f arther , That where any soldier has heretofore allowed his 
insurance to lapse, while suffering from wounds or disease suffered 
or contracted in line of service, and was at the time he allowed 


34 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


his insurance to lapse entitled to compensation on account thereof 
in a sum equal to or in excess of the amount due from him in pre¬ 
miums on his said insurance, and dies or has died from said wounds 
or disease, or becomes or has become permanently and totally dis¬ 
abled by reason thereof, without collecting said compensation, and 
at the time of such death or permanent total disability had 
or has sufficient uncollected compensation to pay all unpaid pre¬ 
miums, then and in that event said policy shall not be considered 
as lapsed, and the United States Veterans’ Bureau is hereby au¬ 
thorized and directed to pay to the said soldier or his beneficiaries 
under said policy the amount of said insurance less the premiums 
and interest thereon at 5 per centum per annum compounded an¬ 
nually in installments as provided by law: Provided further , That 
where any soldier has heretofore allowed his insurance to lapse, 
while suffering from wounds or disease contracted in line of service, 
and has applied for reinstatement thereof in whole or in part, 
and where at the time of such application he was not totally and 
permanently disabled, and where he was not allowed to reinstate 
because of health condition other than total permanent disability, 
and where said soldier has since died from said wounds or disease 
or has become permanently and totally disabled by reason thereof, 
then and in that event the United States Veterans’ Bureau is hereby 
authorized and directed to pay to said soldier or his beneficiaries the 
amount of insurance attempted to be reinstated less the premiums 
and interest thereon at 5 percentum per annum compounded an¬ 
nually in installments as provided by law: Provided further , That 
the Comptroller General of the United States is hereby authorized 
and directed to allow credit in the accounts of the disbursing clerk 
of the United States Veterans’ Bureau for all payments of insurance 
installments hereafter made, without verification of the deduction 
on the pay rolls, of such premiums as may have accrued prior to 
January 1, 1921, while the insured was in the service. 

Sec. 409. The United States Veterans’ Bureau is authorized to 
make provision in accordance with regulations, whereby the pay¬ 
ment of premiums on yearly renewable term in- 
4 A i 92 ?- en amendfno surance and United States Government life insur- 
Act Aug.’o, i92i. ° ance (converted insurance) on the due date thereof 
may be waived and the insurance may be deemed 
not to lapse in the cases of the following persons, to wit: (a) Those 
who are confined in a hospital under said bureau for a compensable 
disability during the period while they are so confined; (b) those 
who are rated as temporarily totally disabled by reason of an injury 
or disease entitling them to compensation during the period of such 
total disability and while they are so rated; (c) those who, while 
mentally incompetent and for whom no legal guardian had been 
or has been appointed; allowed or may allow their insurance to 
lapse while such rating is effective during the period for which they 
have been or hereafter may be so rated, the waiver in such cases to 
be made without application and retroactive where necessary: Pro¬ 
vided , That such relief from payment of premiums on yearly re¬ 
newable term insurance on the due date thereof shall be for full 
calendar months beginning with the month in which said confine- 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


35 


ment to hospital, temporary total disability rating, or in cases of 
mental incompetents for whom no guardian has been appointed with 
the month in which such rating or mental incompetency began or 
begins, and ending with that month during the half or major fraction 
of which the person is confined in hospital, is rated as temporarily 
totally disabled or had or has no legal guardian while rated as 
mentally incompetent: Provided further , That all premiums, the pay¬ 
ment of which when due is waived as above provided, shall bear 
interest at the rate of 5 per centum per annum compounded an¬ 
nually from the due date of each premium, and if not paid by the 
insured shall be deducted from the insurance in any settlement 
thereunder or when the same matures either because of permanent 
total disability or death: And provided further , That in the event 
any lien or other indebtedness established by this Act exists against 
any policy of converted insurance in excess of the then cash surren¬ 
der value thereof at the time of the termination of such policy of 
converted insurance for any reason other than by death or total 
permanent disability, the director is hereby authorized to transfer 
and pay from the military or naval insurance appropriation to 
the United States Government life insurance fund a sum equal to 
the amount such lien or indebtedness exceeds the then cash sur¬ 
render value. 

Sec. 410. Under such rules and regulations as the Director of the 
Veterans’ Bureau and the Postmaster General may prescribe, the 
Act \u 9 i 92 i Postmaster General is hereby authorized to receive 
c ‘ ug ‘ ’ * the premiums on yearly renewable term insurance 

and United States Government life insurance (converted insurance) 
and to act for and turn over to the Treasurer of the United States the 
money so received, and if the money-order system is used as an agency 
for the transmission of such money, the Postmaster General may 
adopt a specially designed money-order form for such purpose, and 
he also is authorized to receive and transmit to the Veterans’ Bureau 
applications for reinstatement of lapsed insurance and applications 
for conversion of yearly renewable term insurance. 

Sec. 411. Subject to the provisions of section 29 of the War Risk 
Insurance Act and amendments thereto policies of insurance here¬ 
tofore or hereafter issued in accordance with 
4 , A i 923 ^ en ?u^e r r Article IV of the War Risk Insurance Act shall 
f)“i 92 i n ^ Act Aug ’ be incontestable after the insurance has been 

in force six months from the date of issuance, or 
reinstatement, except for fraud or nonpayment of premiums: Pro¬ 
vided, That a letter mailed by the United States Veterans’ Bureau 
to the insured at his last known address informing him of the in¬ 
validity of his insurance shall be deemed a contest within the mean¬ 
ing of this section: Provided further, That this section shall be 
deemed to be in effect as of April 6, 1917. 

Sec. 412. That all premiums paid on account of insurance con¬ 
verted under the provisions of Article IV of the War Risk Insurance 
Act shall be deposited and covered into the Treas- 
4 m 3 ndment Mar ' U1 T to th® credit of the United States Government 
life-insurance fund and shall be available for the 
payment of losses, dividends, refunds, and other benefits provided 


36 


THE WAR RISK INSURANCE ACT. 


for under such insurance. Payments from this fund shall be made 
upon and in accordance with awards by the director. 

The United States Veterans’ Bureau is hereby authorized to set 
aside out of the fund so collected such reserve funds as may be 
required, under accepted actuarial principles, to meet all liabilities 
under such insurance; and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby 
authorized to invest and reinvest the said United States Government 
life-insurance fund, or any part thereof, in interest-bearing obliga¬ 
tions of the United States or bonds of the Federal farm loan banks 
and to sell said obligations of the United States or the bonds of the 
Federal farm loan banks for the purposes of such fund. 


INDEX. 


Accrued installments. 

Action against the United States. 

Active service: 

Application for insurance while in. 

Compensation. 

Disability contracted in. 

Induction. 

Insurance. 

Actuaries. 

Adoption. 

Adjudication.. 

Adjustment of claims. 

Advisory board. 

Aggravation: 

After induction before final acceptance. 

Preexisting injury or disease. 

Alien enemy, discharge of. 

Allotment and allowance. 

Family allowance. 

Family conditions on first of month. 

Recovery of. 

Allotment and allowance awards, investigation.. 
Allotment of compensation, patients in hospitals 

American Experience Table. 

Application for— 

Allowance. 

Insurance- 

Converted . 

Term. 

Apportionment: 

Automatic insurance. 

Compensation. 

Disabled person and wife. 

Appropriations: 

Original act. 

Transfer to Veterans’ Bureau. 

Artificial limbs furnished by the bureau. 

Army Nurse Corps entitled to insurance. 

Assignability, compensation and insurance. 

Assignment: 

Subrogation.. 

Cause of action, compensation, subrogation . 

Attorney’s fees. 

Aunts. 

Automatic insurance. 

Award of compensation: 

Effective date of discharge or resignation.... 

Review of. 

Bedridden. 

Beneficiaries: 

Change of— 1. 

Change of status, insurance, term. 

Compensation. 

Death of, insurance, term... 

Designation of, converted insurance. 

Designation of, term insurance. 

Permitted class. 

Subrogation cases. 

War risk and rehabilitation, records of. 


Section. 

Page, 

19 

14 

13 

7 

401 

28 

300 

18 

408 

33 

31 

14 

400 

27 

14 

8 

22 

10 

13 

7 

14 

8 

14 

8 

31 

14 

13 

7 

300 

19 

29 

13 

200 

15 

210 

17 

210 

17 

210 

17 

210 

17 

12 

5 

402 

31 

204 

16 

404 

32 

401 

28 

401 

29 

301 

19 

302 

21 

16-20 

8 

8 

3 

302 

22 

400 

27 

28 

13 

313 

25 

313 

25 

13 

7 

402 

29 

401 

29 

305 

24 

305 

24 

302 

22 

402 

29 

402 

30 

301 

19 

402 

30 

402 

30 

402 

30 

402 

29 

313 

25 

7 

3 


37 






















































38 


INDEX. 


Section. Page. 

Board of discipline and morale, to promote good conduct. 11 5 

Boxer rebellion, treatment of veterans of. 302 22 

Brother. 402 29 

Brother-in-law. 402 29 

Brother or sister. 22 11 

Bureau of War Risk Insurance, powers and functions, transfer of. 3 1 

Burial expenses: 

Death before discharge. 301 20 

Paid out of allotment of compensation. 12 5 

Cash values. 402 30 

Certificate of disability. 306 24 

Change of beneficiary. 402 30 

Child: 

Adopted. 22 10 

Compensation for— 

In cases of death of soldier. h . 301 20 

In case of disability of soldier. 302 . 21 

Illegitimate. 22 12 

Insane. 22 12 

Insurance payable to— 

Automatic.*. 401 29 

Term. 402 29 

Legitimate. 22 10 

Stepchild. 22 10 

Unmarried and under 18 years. 22 10 

Church record: 

As proof of marriage. 22 9 

Showing baptism of children as proof of marriage. 22 9 

Civil service, employees shall be appointed from list of. 17 8 

Claim: 

Allotment and allowance, claims for. 201 15 

Compensation, claims for. 309 25 

Extension of time in which to apply. 309 25 

False statement as to.*. 25 12 

Retroactive. 310 25 

Subrogation.. ' ... 313 25 

Time for filing. 309 25 

Claim agents, fees..... 13 7 

Clergymen, affidavit of, as to proof of marriage..♦. 22 9 

Coast Guard. 22 11 

Cohabitation, illicit. 22 10 

Commissioned officer: 

Death or disability, compensation. 300 18 

Definition of. 22 11 

May apply for insurance. 400 27 

Commissioner: 

Definition of. 22 11 

Office transferred. 1 6 

Compensation: 

Compensation not allowed— 

1. Death as a lawful punishment. 308 24r 

2. Disability— 

Caused by own willful misconduct. 300 19 

Not in line of duty. 300 19 

Not occurring within one year after discharge. 306 24 

Resulting from failure to submit to surgical treatment. 303 23 

3. Dishonorably discharged. 308 24 

4. For no period more than two years prior to date of claim_ 310 25 

5. In receipt of retirement pay.. 312 25- 

6. Unless claim made within five years. 309 25 

Compensation suspended— 

1. Failure to submit to examination. 303 23 

2. Willful failure to follow course of treatment. 303 28 

Amount of— 

Death. 301 19- 

Funeral expenses.'. 301 20- 

Return of body to home. 301 20 























































INDEX. 


Compensation—Continued. 

Amount of—Continued. 

Disability— 

For nurse or attendant. 

Loss of both eyes, hands, or feet. 

Partial... 

Total. 

Total and helpless. 

Apportionment. 

Between beneficiaries. 

Disabled person and wife. 

Army Nurse Corps (female). 

Compensation in lieu of act of Septer 

Artificial limbs. 

Assignment, subrogation. 

Award. 


injury received was likely to result in death or disability 
Claim for time in which to be made. 

Commissioned officers. 

Crimes, death inflicted for. 

Death— 

Inflicted as punishment. 

Officially recorded. 

Within one year after discharge. 

Within five years after. 

Disability— 

Double permanent total. 

Partial and temporary. 

Total and permanent. 

Total and temporary. 

Discharge— 

Death before, funeral expenses. 

Death or disability one year after. 

Dishonorable. 

Time for filing claims after. 

Discontinuance of... 

Double. 

Earning capacity. 

Effective date, death or disability. 

Enlisted men, death or disability. 

Examination, persons in receipt of, must submit. 

Father— 

Amount of. 


Forei| 

Fraud 


Governments, medical services and transportation furnished. 


Hospital service. 

Husband, of injured person. 

Injury, death from.. 

Insane, inability to make claim, extension of time. 

Insanity of adult child..... 

Line of duty, death or disability in. 

Marriage of widow, terminates. 

Medical, surgical, hospital service. 

Military offenses, death inflicted for. 

Minor, time extension. 

Missing men.:. 

Mother, amount of. 

Nurse or attendant. 

Nurse Corps. 

Proximate cause. 



39 

Section. 

Pago. 

302 

22 

302 

22 

302 

22 

302 

22 

302 

22 

301 

21 

301 

21 

302 

22 

300 

18 

312 

25 

302 

22 

313 

25 

305 

24 

301 

20 

306 

24 

/ 309 

25 

\ 310 

25 

300 

18 

308 

24 

308 

24 

307 

24 

306 

24 

309 

25 

302 

21 

302 

21 

302 

21 

302 

21 

301 

20 

306 

24 

308 

24 

309 

25 

315 

27 

302 

21 

302 

21 

/ 300 

19 

\ 302 

21 

300 

19 

303 

23 

301 

20 

302 

21 

312 

25 

302 

23 

27 

13 

312 

25 

302 

22 

302 

22 

301 

19 

309 

25 

301 

20 

300 

18 

301 

20 

302 

22 

308 

24 

309 

25 

307 

24 

301 

20 

302 

22 

300 

18 

306 

24 


























































40 


INDEX. 


Compensation—Continued. 

Ratings, schedule of.. 

Recovery, subrogation cases.. 

Retirement pay, while in receipt of. 


Subrogation, assignment of cause of action.— 
Suspended, refusing to submit to examination. 

Temporary total disability, amount of. 

Termination of. 

Time for filing claims. 


Section. Page. 


Traveling expenses, persons submitting to medical examination.... 


Widow. 

Widower. 

Wife. 

Willful misconduct, death or disability. 

Conditions, publication of, contract of insurance. 

Confined in hospital, premiums, waiver of. 

Conscientious objector. 

Consent, change of beneficiary without. 

Contract of insurance. 

Convalescent care... 

Converted insurance. (See Insurance.) 


Creditors, benefits not subject to claims of.. 

Crime, death inflicted for. 

Curator. 

Cyclops. 

Damages, subrogation cases. 

Death: 

Automatic insurance... 

Compensation, beneficiaries. 

Compensation for. 

Inflicted as punishment. 

Officially recorded. 

Within one year after discharge. 

Within five years after. 

Definitions.. 

Defraud. 

Dental care. 

Dependency: 

Husband of an insane person. 

Must arise within five years after death of soldier. 

Parents..... 

Parents of insane patient. 

Deputies, employment of. 

Deserter, discharged on ground of a, terminates rights. 

Designation of beneficiary. 

Detailed clerks, to make examination. 

Director: 

Jurisdiction, salary, etc... 


Veterans’ Bureau, duties and powers of. 

War Risk Bureau, abolishment. 

Disability: 


Temporary total— 

Amount of compensation. 

Premiums waived. 

Total permanent, insurance against. 
Within one year after discharge_ 


302 

22 

313 

25 

312 

25 

305 

24 

300 

19 

313 

25 

303 

23 

302 

21 

301 

20 

309 

25 

302 

21 

303 

23 

303 

23 

303 

23 

302 

23 

301 

20 

301 

20 

302 

21 

300 

19 

401 

27 

409 

33 

29 

13 

402 

30 

401 

27 

13 

0 

308 

24 

29 

14 

28 

13 

308 

24 

23 

11 

401 

29 

313 

25 

401 

29 

301 

19 

300 

18 

308 

24 

307 

24 

306 

24 

309 

25 

22 

11 

27 

13 

13 

6 

23 

11 

301 

20 

,302 

20 

23 

11 

14 

8 

29 

13 

402 

29 

10 

4 

1 

1 

2 

1 

13 

7 

2 

1 

1 

1 

302 

21 

306 

24 

404 

32 

302 

21 

409 

34 

400 

27 

306 

24 





























































INDEX. 41 

Discharge: Section. Page. 

Alien enemy. 29 13 

Application before. 401 28 

Death before, funeral expenses allowed. 301 20 

Death or disability, one year after. 306 24 

Dishonorable, terminates rights to compensation. 308 24 

Not entitled to apply for insurance after. 400 27 

Time for filing claims after. 309 25 

Discontinuance of compensation. 315 27 

Disease or injury, after induction before final acceptance, insurance and 

compensation. 3T 14 

Dismissal of alien enemy. 29 13 

District court. 15 8 

Dividends, provisions for. 402 29 

Documents: 

Producing of, can be compelled by subpoenas. 15 8 

False statements in...... 25 12 

Double total permanent, compensation in case of. 302 21 

Due date, waiver of premiums, insurance term, and converted. 409 34 

Earning capacity, partial and temporary disability. 302 22 

Effective date.............. 22 10 

Death or disability, compensation. 300 18 

First day of third calendar month. 402 20 

Section 302 as amended. 302 23 

Endowment, converted into. 404 32 

Enemy alien. 29 13 

Enlisted man: 

April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918, status of inducted men. 31 14 

Death or disability, compensation. 300 18 

Definition of. 22 11 

Entitled to apply for insurance. 400 27 

Enlistment, application after. 401 28 

Enlistment or induction. 22 11 

Escheat to United States, insurance term, no beneficiary. 407 33 

Estate, no survivors, paid to. 402 29 

Evidence, compel submission of... 15 8 

Evidence and proofs, rules governing. 13 7 

Examination, physical: 

Clerks detailed for. 10 4 

Exemption from for insurance. 400 27 

Persons in receipt of compensation must submit to. 303 23 

Excess mortality, United States to bear expense of. 403 31 

Executive officer of insane asylum. 23 11 

False statements, punishment for. 25 12 

Father: * 

Amount of compensation, death of son. 301 20 

Compensation, temporary total disability. 302 21 

Federal employee’s liability, compensation in lieu of. 312 25 

Fees, attorneys or claim agents. 13 7 

Flag to drape casket.„. 301 20- 

Forms of applications. 13 7 

Foreign governments, medical services and transportation furnished.... 302 22 

Frauds: 

Compensation. 14 8 

Punishment for..... 26 13 

Fund, military and naval pay deposit fund. 21 9 

Funds in Treasury in trust for mentally incompetent. 23 11 

Funeral expenses: 

Death before discharge. 301 20 

Paid out of allotment of compensation. 12 5 

Veteran of any war.•-. 301 20 

Gains, dividends from. 402 29 

Good conduct, patients in hospital, promotion of. 11 5 

Grandchild. 22 10 

Permitted class.-.. 402 29 

Gratuities: 

Compensation while receiving. 312 25 

Persons receiving may not receive compensation. 302 23. 




























































42 


INDEX. 


Section. Page. 

Guardians. 23 11 

Half blood, brother and sister include. 22 11 

Hazards of war, mortality and disability resulting from. 403 31 

Hospitalization, by other means. 9 3 

Hospitals: 

Confined in, premiums waived in case of. 409 34 

Transfer of. 9 3 

Husband: 

Compensation on account of death of, bars from further compensa¬ 
tion... 301 20 

Of injured person, compensation for. 302 22 

Illegitimate. 22 10 

Impairment of earning capacity. t .i. 302 21 

Imprisonment: 

Claim agent. 13 7 

False statements. 25 12 

Frauds. 26 12 

Intent to defraud. 27 13 

f 23 11 

[ncompetents.1 301 20 

l 309 25 

Incontestability, insurance, term and converted. 411 35 

Induction: 

Before final acceptance effecting compensation and insurance. 31 14 

By local draft board. 401 28 

Provisional acceptance. 31 14 

Induction or enlistment. 22 10 

Information, furnished by bureau to enlisted men. 24 12 

Injury: 

Death from, compensation, beneficiaries. 301 19 

Includes disease. .... 22 11 

In loco parentis.... 22 10 

Insane, inability to make claim, extension of time. 309 25 

Asylums, inmates of...... 23 11 

Termination of insurance and compensation rights. 29 13 

Waiver of insurance premiums. 409 34 

Insanity of child, compensation continues after 18 years of age. 301 20 

Inspection service, establishment of. 9 3 

Insurance: 

Automatic— 

Apportionment. 401 29 

Death. 401 29 

Installments, monthly. 401 29 

Total and permanent disability.•. 401 29 

Widow. 401 29 

Widowhood... 401 29 

Converted—■ 

Additional two years to convert, total and permanent disability 

cases...j.. 404 32 

Applications for, received by Postmaster General. 410 35 

Beneficiary, designation of. 402 29 

Cash surrender value. 29 13 

Disability benefits, transfer of funds. 406 33 

Estate, paid to.. 402 31 

Incontestable after six months. 411 35 

Installment payments. 17 32 

Optional settlement. 17 32 

Postmaster General, premiums payable to. 410 35 

Premiums— 

Back, interests per cent per annum. 408 33 

Paid on disposition of. 18 31 

Waiver of. 409 34 

Reinstatement. 408 33 

Reserve value. 406 33 

Term until converted. 404 32 

Total and permanent disability benefits. 406 33 

Will and testament, designation of beneficiary. 402 31 
























































INDEX. 


Insnrance—Continued. 

Term— 

Active service, must be in, to be entitled to. 

American Experience Table.\. 

Amount of. 

Application, within 120 days. 

Application, induction before final acceptance. 

Army Nurse Corps. 

Aunts. 

Beneficiary— 

Change of. 

Change of status. 

Death of. 

Designation of. 

Entire failure of, escheat to United States. 

Restricted class. 

Benefits prior to final acceptance... .. 

Brother. 

Brother-in-law. 

Cash value. 

Child, beneficiary.. 

Commissioned officer. 

Conditions, publications of. 

Contract, terms and conditions, publishing of. 

Cyclops, men of, deemed to have applied. 

Dependents, for protection of. 

Dividends, provisions for. 

Effective date, first day of the third calendar month 

Enlisted men. 

Enlistment, application after. 

Estate, no survivors, paid to. 

Examination, exemption from. 

Gains, dividends from. 

Grandchild. 

Incontestable after six months. 

Induction by local draft board. 

Installments, 240 equal monthly. 

Intestacy, distribution. 

Lapsed, while entitled to compensation. 

Loan values. 

Local draft board, induction by. 

Maturity, provisions for, at certain ages. 

Navy Nurse Corps._ 

Nephews. 

Nieces. 

One hundred and twenty days, application for. 

Parent. 

Postmaster General, premiums payable to. 

Premiums— 

Back, interest 5 per cent per annum. 

Collected on policy issued after 120 days. 

Granted upon payment of. 

Waiver of. 

Publication, terms.,. 

Regulations, governing contract. 

Reinstatement, physical condition. 

Reserve value.... 

Residence, State of. 

Savings, dividends. 

Sister.. 

Sister-in-law. 

Spouse. 

Termination of. 

Terms and conditions of contract. 



43 

Section. 

Page. 

400 

27 

402 

30 

400 

27 

401 

28 

31 

15 

400 

27 

402 

29 

402 

30 

402 

31 

402 

30 

402 

30 

407 

33 

402 

29 

31 

15 

402 

29 

402 

29 

402 

30 

402 

29 

400 

27 

401 

29 

402 

30 

401 

29 

400 

27 

402 

30 

402 

30 

400 

27 

401 

29 

402 

30 

400 

27 

402 

29 

402 

29 

411 

35 

401 

29 

402 

30 

402 

30 

408 

34 

402 

30 

401 

29 

402 

30 

400 

27 

402 

29 

402 

29 

401 

28 

402 

29 

410 

35' 

408 

34 

401 

29 

400 

28 

409 

34 

401 

28 

402 

29 

408 

33 

402 

30 

402 

30 

402 

30 

402 

29 

402 

29 

402 

29 

29 

13 

402 

29 

f 400 

28 

402 

30 

1 401 

29 


Total permanent disability 































































44 


INDEX. 


I nsurance—Continued. 

Term—Continued. Section. 

Total permanent disability ceases, additional two years to con¬ 
vert. 404 

Uncles. 402 

Values, extended.... 402 

Wills, beneficiary may be designated in. 402 

Interior Department facilities, available for Veterans’ Bureau. 9 

Intestacy, distribution in case of. 402 

Invest and reinvest, United States Government life insurance fund.... 18 

Investigations. 13 

Investments, of allotment of compensation. 12 

Judgment...i. 13 

Lapsed insurance, term while entitled to compensation. 408 

Legal liability, beneficiary to assign to United States. 313 

Legitimate. 22 

Line of duty: 

Death or disability in compensation for... 300 

Injury contracted in, after induction, insurance and compensation.. 31 

Tuberculosis and neuropsychiatric. 300 

Loan values, provisions for. 402 

Local draft board: 

Induction by. 401 

Induction by, affecting compensation and insurance. 31 

Marine and Seamen’s Division. 1 

Marriage: 

Of soldier’s widow, stops compensation. 301 

Must be within 10 years from date of injury. 301 

Proof of. 22 

Maturity, provisions for at certain ages. 402 

Medical examination. 13 

Converted without. 404 

Medical surgical hospital service furnished. 302 

Mentally incompetent, guardian for. 23 

Waiver of insurance premiums for. 409 

Mileage: 

Payment of, to witness. 15 

Subrogation. 313 

Military and Naval forces, definition of.’.... 22 

Military and Naval fund, converted insurance, disability benefits. 406 

Military and Naval Insurance, Division of. 1 

Minor, inability to make claim, time extension... 309 

Payments to guardian or legal custodian of.i_ 23 

Misconduct, willful and persistent. 29 

Missing men, compensation during period of. 307 

Moral turpitude, guilty of any offense involving. 29 

Mother: 

Amount of compensation, death of son. 301 

Compensation, temporary total disability. 302 

Definition of. 22 

Mutiny, guilty of, terminates. 29 

National Home Disabled Soldiers facilities, available for Veterans’ Bu¬ 
reau. 9 

Navy Department facilities, available for Veterans’ Bureau. 9 

Navy Nurse Corps, entitled to apply. 400 

Nephews, beneficiaries. 402 

Neuropsychiatric, contracted in line of duty... 300 

Nieces, beneficiary.. 402 

Nurse or attendant in disability cases. 302 

Nurse Corps, death or disability, compensation. 300 

Oaths, administration of.j 

Obligations of the United States, invest in. 18 

One hundred and twenty days, application for insurance. 401 

One year: 

After discharge, death, or disability. 306 

Time may be extended for filing claims.. 309 
























































INDEX. 


Open and notorious illicit cohabitation. 

Optional settlement, converted insurance. 

Ordinary life, converted into. 

Parent. 

Partial and permanent disability, compensation in case of. 

Partial and temporary disability, compensation in case of. 

Pay, definition of. 

Pay or deposit, premiums from. 

Penalties for breach of good conduct. 

Pensions: 

After enactment of this amendment. 

Persons receiving, may .not receive compensation. 

Perjury, punishment. 

Permanent disability, insurance against. 

Permanently helpless. 

Petty officers, included in the term “enlisted men”'.. 

Philippine insurrection, treatment of veterans of. 

Physical condition of applicant, reinstatement of insurance. 

Postmaster General, applications for reinstatement and conversion 

Preexisting disease or injury, aggravation of. 

Premiums: 

Collected on policy issued after expiration of 120-day period.. 

Covered into Treasury to credit of insurance fund. 

Deducted. 

Deposited in United States Government insurance fund. 

In advance.*.*. 

Insurance granted upon payment of. 

Interest, deductible from proceeds. 

Postmaster General may receive. 

Rates based on American Experience Table of Mortality. 

Waiver of, in case of disability.. *. 

Proclamation of President, affecting converted insurance. 

Prosthetic appliances. 

Proximate cause, compensation. 

Disability resulting from injury shown at time of discharge.... 

Publication, terms. 

Public Health Service: 

Facilities available for Veterans’ Bureau. 

Transfer of certain activities. 

Purchase or manufacture artificial limbs and chairs. 

Ratings, schedule of.. 

Records, files documents: 

Bureau of War Risk Insurance, transfer.. 

Public Health, transfer. 

Recovery of allotment and allowance. 

Recovery from disability, transfer of funds. 

Recovery, subrogation cases. 

Regional offices, powers and duties of. 

Regional offices and suboffices, termination of. 

Regulations: 

Authority of director to make. 

Conversion.. 

Death or disability one year after discharge... 

Furnishing foreign Government medical services. 

Governing contract. 

Subrogation, authority by director... 

Reinstatement: 

Applications sent to Postmaster General.. 

Physical condition of applicant. 

Report to Congress..... 

Reserve funds set aside for liabilities. 

Reserve value: 

Converted insurance.. . 

Paid to the estate. 



45 

Section. 

Page. 

22 

11 

17 

32 

404 

32 

/ 22 

10 

\ 402 

29 

302 

22 

302 

22 

22 

10 

404 

32 

11 

5 

312 

25 

302 

23 

25 

12 

402 

30 

22 

10 

22 

11 

302 

22 

408 

33 

410 

35 

r 300 

19 

l 13 

7 

401 

28 

412 

35 

404 

32 

18 

31 

404 

32 

* 400 

27 

408 

33 

410 

35 

403 

31 

409 

34 

404 

32 

13 

7 

306 

24 

306 

24 

401 

28 

9 

3 

4 

2 

302 

22 

302 

22 

5 

2 

5 

2 

210 

17 

406 

32 

313 

25 

6 

3 

6 

3 

f 2 

1 

T 13 

7 

404 

32 

306 

24 

302 

22 

402 

30 

313 

25 

410 

35 

408 

33 

14 

8 

18 

31 

406 

32 

402 

30 




























































46 


INDEX. 


Retirement pay, compensation while in receipt of. 

Retroactive, payment of claim... 

Review reward, bureau may at any time... 

Right of election, payment of proceeds. 

Savings, dividends from. 

Schedule of ratings, reductions in earning capacity. 

Sister . 

Sister-in-law. 

Sound condition: 

Compensation.. 

Held to have been in, when accepted. 

Spanish-American War veterans, treatment of... 

Standardization, maintain an inspection service for.. 

Step brother and sister, brother and sister include. 

Stepchild. 

Stepfather... 

Stepmother... 

Step mother or father..... 

Suboffices, powers and duties of. 

Subpoenas, power to issue... 

Subrogation. 

Fees and mileage to beneficiary witness, etc... 

Suits against the United States. 

Surgeons of War and Navy. 

Suspended compensation, refusing to submit to examination 

Taxation, compensation, and insurance exempt from. 

Temporary total disability : 

Amount of compensation. 

Premiums, waiver of. 

Term insurance. (See Insurance.) 

Termination of compensation. 

Termination of the war, converted five years after. 

Terms, publication of. 

Terms and conditions of contract, publishing of. 

Time: 

Extension of, to convert term insurance. 

For filing claim, extension of. 

For filing claims within five years after discharge. 

Of disability. 

Total and permanent disability: 

Compensation in case of. 

Insurance against— 

Automatic.. 

Converted. 


Term. j 

Transportation to disabled soldiers of foreign governments. 

Travel allowance. 

Traveling expenses, persons submitting to medical examination. 

Treason, guilty of, termination of rights. 

Treatment, refusal to submit.. 

Trust funds for mental incompetents. 

Tuberculosis contracted in line of duty. 

Twenty-payment life, converted into. 

Two years, retroactive, payment of claims. 

Two years additional to convert, total and permanent rating changed... 

Uncles, beneficiary. 

United States Government life insurance fund. 

Use of. 

Values extended, provisions for.... 

Veterans’ Bureau, establishment of. 

Vocational rehabilitation, transfer to Veterans’ Bureau. 

Wages, loss of medical examination. 

Waiver of premiums, insurance, term and converted. 

Waiver of rights, preexisting disease... 


Section. 

Page. 

312 

25 

310 

25 

305 

24 

17 

32 

402 

29 

302 

22 

402 

29 

402 

29 

300 

19 

300 

19 

302 

22 

9 

3 

22 

10 

22 

10 

22 

10 

22 

10 

22 

10 

6 

2 

15 

8 

313 

25 

313 

26 

13 

7 

14 

8 

303 

23 

28 

13 

302 

22 

409 

34 

315 

27 

301 

20 

404 

32 

401 

28 

402 

29 

404 

32 

309 

25 

309 

25 

306 

24 

302 

22 

401 

29 

406 

32 

402 

30 

400 

27 

302 

22 

10 

4 

303 

23 

29 

14 

303 

23 

23 

12 

300 

19 

404 

32 

310 

25 

404 

32 

402 

29 

406 

32 

18 

31 

402 

29 

1 

1 

3 

1 

303 

23 

409 

34 

13 

7 



























































INDEX. 


47 


Section. Page. 

War Department, available for Veterans’ Bureau.1. 9 3 

War, Secretary of, services of surgeons. 14 8 

Wheeled chairs, supplied by bureau. 302 22 

Widow: 

Amount, compensation death of soldier. 301 20 

Automatic insurance. 401 29 

One who marries deceased not later than 10 years after injury. 301 21 

Open and notorious illicit cohabitation. 22 11 

Widower, same rights*as widow. 301 21 

Widowhood, automatic during. 401 29 

Wife: 

Compensation, apportionment.. 302 22 

Compensation case of temporary total disability. 302 21 

Includes husband. 302 22 

Will and testament, designation of beneficiary, converted insurance- 402 31 

Wills. 402 31 

Willful misconduct: 

Death or disability, no compensation. 300 19 

Witness, compel attendance of. 15 8 

o 



















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